Eight New Art Installations at IAH

Civic Art at HAA is pleased to announce that passengers traveling through the newly expanded Terminal D at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) will encounter a striking array of eight new art installations, part of a bold initiative to showcase the cultural vibrancy and diversity of Houston. These works, now on display throughout the terminal, reflect both the city’s dynamic creative community and Houston Airports’ strategic role as a major gateway to Latin America.

The eight newly installed pieces are part of a larger program to place 12 site-specific works throughout the redeveloped international terminal, which will also include the International Central Processor (ICP), set to open in two phases in 2025. Houston Arts Alliance has worked closely in partnership with Houston Airport System and the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA) to provide critical project support and project management services throughout these projects. Our Civic Art Team facilitated artist selection, and managed design, fabrication, and installation phases for all 8 locations in the new D-West pier.

“Public art transforms spaces and enhances the travel experience,” said Grace Zuñiga, Civic Art Director for Houston Arts Alliance. “These installations are a celebration of Houston’s diverse creative community and global connections. With the completion of these works, we’re not only enriching the airport environment but also contributing to a lasting legacy that reflects the spirit of our city.”

The artwork, created by both local and internationally renowned artists, enhances the visual experience for travelers. Six installations, located at Gates D1 through D6, were commissioned from Houston-area artists, showcasing the city’s distinct culture and welcoming spirit. At each end of the new Terminal D-West Pier, artists from Latin America have created site-specific installations that highlight Houston’s prominent position as a gateway to the region.

About the Artworks:

**Images courtesy of Allison Killen and Alton DuLaney**

Regina Silveira – Paradise (Flight, Wind, Mix) (2024)

The largest of the new installations and at the entrance to the D-West Pier, Paradise (Flight, Wind, Mix), by Brazilian artist Regina Silveira plays with scale and movement through a three-part installation composed of digitally printed laminated glass elements suspended from the ceiling and affixed to the wall and intricately designed terrazzo floor situated below. Inspired by the delicate forms of butterflies in flight, Silveira uses light and shadow to imbue the sculptures with a sense of movement, creating an immersive environment that invites viewers to contemplate the interconnectedness of nature, flight, and freedom.

Carolina Caycedo – Nuestro Cosmos (2023)
Carolina Caycedo's work explores the inseparable connection between humanity and nature. Drawing inspiration from traditional fishing nets, Caycedo transforms them into large-scale, colorful sculptures that evoke both the fluidity of dancing figures and the delicate beauty of hanging flowers. These dynamic pieces invite viewers to reconsider the ways in which we are bound to the natural world, offering a visual celebration of both harmony and movement.

Located within gates D1-D6

Gate D1: Emilie Duval – Delightful Convergence (2023)
In Delightful Convergence, Emilie Duval presents a striking fusion of digital and physical space. Through her mixed-media painting, Duval constructs a conceptual bridge between the two realms, using vibrant colors and abstract forms to envision Houston as a global gateway. The larger-than-life paintings reflect the blending of the digital age with the tangible world, including iconic Houston landmarks and industries, symbolizing the convergence of cultures, technologies, and human connections in the city.

Gate D2: José Gerardo Rosales – Blue Bayou, Grackles, Purple Grackles (2023)
In Blue Bayou, Grackles, Purple Grackles, José Gerardo Rosales incorporates imagery of local flora and fauna to explore the complex relationship between the urban environment, nature, and the cultural diversity of Houston. Rosales’ playful depictions of grackles, various plants, and an encounter with a wayward cayote – all of which are native to the area – reflect the city’s ever-evolving landscape, where nature and the urban sprawl coexist in unexpected harmony.

Gate D3: Reginald Adams – Sankofa (2023)
Reginald Adams' Sankofa is a powerful mosaic celebrating cultural heritage, community, collaboration, and the timeless journey of self-discovery. Created by hand with over eighty community volunteers, the Sankofa series was inspired by the West Afrikan Adinkra symbol which embodies the wisdom of learning from the past to enrich our future. Drawing from ancient symbols and craft traditions, Adams' work explores the cyclical nature of time and the importance of looking to the past to move forward. Sankofa serves as both a reflection on heritage and a vision for a culturally enriched future.

Gate D4: Lovie Olivia – Comforter (2023)
Inspired by the vast ethnic and cultural diversity within Houston, histories and southern traditions of quilt making, and importantly, the quilters of Gee’s Bend, Lovie Olivia’s Comforter is a series of large-scale paintings created to reflect the love, curiosity, and pride the artist has for the city of Houston. The quilt’s design weaves together patterns and symbols that celebrate the city’s vibrant tapestry of communities and histories. The artwork serves as both a literal and metaphorical embrace, offering comfort and connection through its layers of meaning.

Gate D5: Leslie Gaworecki, Marlo Saucedo, and Emanual “Outspoken” Bean – Uniquely Houston (2024)
Uniquely Houston is a collaborative acrylic painting combining the artistic styles of Leslie Gaworecki, Marlo Saucedo, and Emanual “Outspoken” Bean. Together, they create a vibrant and multi-layered expression of Houston’s distinct and unique character. Gaworecki’s colorful and uplifting canvases provide a backdrop for Saucedo’s imagery, rendered out of poetry written by Outspoken Bean that tells the story of Houston. Bringing words of welcome and inspiration, these artworks literally tell the story of the City.

Gate D6: Nick Vaughan and Jake Margolin – Montrose (3 Views) (2023)
Based on original photographs turned into stencils, then rendered on paper in vibrant pink pigment away Montrose (3 Views) by Nick Vaughan and Jake Margolin captures the iconic Houston skyline through the lens of nature. Each of the three pieces depicts the city’s towering structures framed by the plants and trees at three historically significant locations within Montrose, the city’s LGBTQ+ enclave. The series speaks to the resilience of both the natural world and the community, intertwined in the urban landscape of Houston.

Congratulations Round 2 of City’s Initiative and Let Creativity Happen Grantees!