Southwest Suspended Artwork Grant

Southwest Suspended Artwork Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Houston Arts Alliance
Amount: US $710,000
Last Updated: November 23, 2025

Summary

The Southwest Suspended Artwork Grant invites artists to create a major suspended artwork for the Houston Airports West Concourse Expansion at William P. Hobby Airport. This public art will enhance the City of Houston’s Civic Art Collection and be visible to millions of travelers, embodying the dynamic spirit of the city. Artists are encouraged to draw inspiration from the interplay of natural light and the surrounding environment, reflecting the beauty of Houston's landscape.

Overview

Summary On behalf of Southwest Airlines, Houston Arts Alliance invites artists and artist teams to submit qualifications to design, fabricate, and install one major suspended work of public art for the Houston Airports West Concourse Expansion Project at William P. Hobby Airport. This opportunity calls for a significant artistic addition, commissioned by Houston Airports in partnership with Southwest Airlines, to be included in the City of Houston’s Civic Art Collection. The suspended artwork will be highly visible to millions of annual travelers, creating a memorable impression of Houston as a dynamic and creative city. The inspiration for this commission is the dappled light filtering through the canopy of oldgrowth live oak trees. Artists are encouraged to explore concepts that engage with natural light, shifting perspectives and the passage of time as sunlight streams through the concourse’s full-height glass wall. The Hobby Airport West Concourse Expansion will include seven new gates, a state-ofthe-art baggage handling system, additional baggage claim carousels and a protective canopy connecting the terminal to the parking garage. Houston Airports is the City of Houston’s Department of Aviation. Comprised of George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) and Ellington Airport (EFD) / Houston Spaceport, Houston Airports served 63 million passengers in 2024. Houston Airports form one of the largest airport systems in North America and serves as a primary gateway to Latin America and the South-Central region of the United States. Houston Airports is the winner of the World’s Best Airport Art Program, awarded by Skytrax in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Civic Art at Houston Airports enhances the passenger experience by building and presenting a world-class collection of regional, national and international artworks.

Eligibility

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