19 KC-Area Artists Announced for Kansas City International Airport New Terminal Public Art
The New Single Terminal and Parking at Kansas City International Airport has reached another milestone in the Call for Artists process, with the art selection panel announcing 19 more artists chosen to create artwork within the New Terminal Concourses.
The $5.65 million budget for new commissioned public artworks is the largest One Percent for Art project in Kansas City history with opportunities for 28 individual artists and new artworks to be displayed in the New Terminal and Parking Garage at KCI.
The 19 artworks by local artists are slated for installation in departure lounges in Concourses A and B, at a commissioned budget of $20,000 each. The wall-based artwork will be located on the porcelain tile walls at the north and south ends of the gate lounges. Artists’ proposals ranged in medium and could be traditionally framed artworks, drawings, paintings, photography, textiles, mosaic or tile wall hangings, mixed-media or assemblage, digital art displays, artwork utilizing electricity or digital components, relief or wall-mounted sculptural works. View renderings of the artworks here.
The third and final Call for Artists was issued April 18, 2021, and closed June 18, 2021. Selection panelists reviewed all 188 applications and proposal submissions. Finalists were notified in August. Having national eyes on local portfolios was an important part of the selection process, removing the perception of bias and keeping the process equitable. Local artists received national exposure in the selection process and will receive major exposure once the terminal is operational. The selection panel was composed of arts professionals, educators, gallerists and curators outside of the Kansas City area. Diversity and inclusion have been integral values in the entire One Percent for Art at KCI project process – 78 percent of the finalists of all calls represent women or artists of color. All selections were approved by the Municipal Art Commission. In addition, nine of the 28 artist contracts required City Council approval.
“The panel did a fantastic job with a difficult task, and I’m pleased with their selections,” said James Martin, KCMO Public Art Administrator. “There are artists who have worked in the Kansas City area for many years who will be familiar to longtime observers. There are also artists who probably are not as familiar who contributed great proposals. I’m also thrilled with the diversity of media that will be on display, as well as the diversity that exists within this group of 19 artists.”
Selected artists (in alphabetical order by last name):
Debbie Barrett-Jones
Laura Berman
Mona Cliff
Santiago Cucullu
JT Daniels
Israel Alejandro Garcia Garcia
Rachelle Gardner-Roe
John Hans
Rachel Hubbard Kline
Kwanza Humphrey
Molly Kaderka
Kathy Liao
John Louder
Sean Nash
Stephen Proski
Hasna Sal
Kati Toivanen
Bernadette Esperanza Torres
Hong Chun Zhang
Artists will have until Fall 2022 to complete their commissioned artwork.
With more than 1,900 total submissions for the project, the chosen finalists represent a diverse group of 28 different artists commissioned for new works to become part of the permanent collection at the Kansas City International Airport. Seventy-five percent of all new art at KCI will be represented by Kansas City-area artists or those with local ties.
Slated to open in early 2023, the Build KCI project will replace the aging three-terminal complex with a single, modern terminal and 6,000-plus space garage that will improve the traveling experience for residents and visitors. Public art will be a significant part of this experience.
View the Municipal Art Commission presentation featuring the local 19 artist’s proposals, timeline and other Art at KCI project details here.
For more information about public art at KCI, visit BuildKCI.com/Art. More details of the whole New Terminal project are available at BuildKCI.com and on social media at @BuildKCI.
The Kansas City Airport System is an Enterprise Fund Department of the City of Kansas City, Missouri, and is supported wholly by airport user charges. No general fund tax revenues are used for the administration, promotion, operation, or maintenance of the airports in the system.
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Media Contact:
Joe McBride
Joe.McBride@kcmo.org
816.243.3164