Tampa International Airport (TPA) is installing a new 21-foot sculpture of a pink flamingo in the main terminal, one of seven new art pieces approved by the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board to enhance and beautify the airport.
HOME, by Matthew Mazzotta, is a massive, floor-to-ceiling sculpture that depicts a hand-sculpted resin and fiberglass flamingo as it gently dips its head beneath the surface of the water.
HOME and the other art pieces were selected from 734 total respondents, including many local, national and international artists. Select artists were then shortlisted and invited to submit a proposal for a specific location within the airport.
“We are more than a place that people simply pass through – we are the first and last impression of the Tampa Bay region,” says TPA CEO Joe Lopano. “Public art is critical to creating a sense of place and leaving our guests with a unique and engaging experience.”
TPA’s art program strives to transform and enhance the experience of millions of guests each and every year.
“Every airport has terminals, seating, gates and travelers – and every airport functions as a gateway,” says Chris Minner, TPA executive vice president of marketing. “But how this initial experience happens – how it feels during those welcomes and goodbyes – is what elevates our shared experience and invites our travelers to become true representatives of our region.”
