As midterms come and go, Penn students will be grateful to make an escape from the hustle of school with Thanksgiving and winter breaks. This year, however, call your Uber an hour earlier than usual and allow yourself a few extra minutes at the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to check out the incredible art installations that grace its walls. According to Time Out magazine, PHL ranks third in the United States’ top airports for art.
PHL has been supporting the arts and culture for 25 years, focusing on Greater Philadelphia-area artists and regional art institutions. With more than 20 gallery spaces across all seven terminals and baggage claim, it’s virtually impossible to travel through PHL without interacting with the airport’s nationally-recognized, award-winning visual arts. Even in a time crunch, here are a few exhibits that are worth at least a walk-by on your way to your gate.
Terminal A West: Nitza Walesca Sierra
Influenced by the power of femininity and the strong female influences in her life, Philadelphia artist Nitza Walesca Sierra’s exhibition titled Mis Tesoros features 18 matte black vessels that mimic the natural curves of a woman’s body. Sierra details each vase with intricate carvings of symbols from Tiano (Indigenous people of the Caribbean) and African cultures, as well as important Philadelphia scenery like the skyline and the street poles along Broad Street. A ceramicist, carver, and educator, Sierra pays tribute to the women in her life while making a statement about appreciating the value of all of the dynamic pieces that shape a life.
Terminal B: Mickayel Thurin
Haitian American artist Mickayel Thurin’s works center primarily on the human experience, particularly exploring themes of trauma, relationships, emotional well–being, and spirituality. Her airport exhibit of the piece Filtered Perspective draws the viewer in with the vibrant and texturally intriguing crocheted and painted woman, and keeps the viewer examining the significance of brightly–colored yarn that appears to represent the figure’s tears. Surrounded by hanging mirror shards, a viewer might contemplate if the figure might even represent themselves. Thurin emphasizes the importance of mental strength and willpower in the face of tragedy, and says that “although we cannot pick what happens to us or around us, we can choose how we react, thus becoming our reality."
Between Terminals C and D: King Saladeen
King Saladeen, a West Philadelphia native, lives by the idea that a person needs three things to be happy: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for. King Saladeen, whose real name is Raheem Saladeen Johnson, spreads his optimistic messages through highly appealing, energetic works that are most closely considered as a combination of graffiti and cartoon. His unmissable 200–foot mural at PHL named Create Your Gold carries the message to “Dream Big!” and “Love What You Do!,” inspiring travelers to keep sight of the big picture—after all, cliches are overused for a reason: they are true! Shouldn’t we all love what we do? What a simple idea that is so frequently overlooked. King Saladeen intends to continue to spread these straightforward mantras and mix them into future works that will carry on his bold, pop art–esque color scheme and style.
Terminal F: Moses BuffaloBoy
Expressing his indigenous heritage through his art, WildFire Moses Jonah BuffaloBoy shares his culture with PHL in a piece that incorporates significant symbolism from the Lakota of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe in North Dakota. His installation Visions of the Eagle Dancer centers upon an eagle dancer who acts as a bridge between the spiritual and physical worlds. On the sides of the dancer are a sun and moon, which represent the two natural sources of light, and the Native American medicine wheel (sacred hoop). The wheel is widely known among Native tribes and “embodies the 4 cardinal directions” as a “symbol of health and healing”. Although Moses focuses on conveying his pride of his cultural background, the piece contains symbols that hold significance to members of all tribes to broaden the appeal and audience of his artwork.
Terminal B Baggage Claim: Terrance Woolford
Philadelphia artist Terrance Woolford literally takes others' trash and turns it into treasure for the viewing enjoyment of anyone retrieving their bags in Terminal B. Inspired by his grandfather who worked as a sanitation engineer, Woolford uses discarded items at the airport and small trinkets from thrift stores in his masterpiece Love Awaits You. Intended to capture the feeling of reconnecting with loved ones at the airport, the piece shows an eye–catching airplane headed towards a heart.
To keep track of PHL’s exhibits, follow the airport art on Instagram @PHLAirportArt.
For those of you taking the train this holiday season, don’t be afraid to spend a few minutes at 30th Street Station enjoying their Art at Amtrak Program. The latest installation is a piece called Flourish by Roxana Azar. It is located on the Cira Skybridge, the pedestrian bridge over Arch Street.
Wherever you’re off to this semester, allow the art exhibits present in Philadelphia's transportation centers to give you something new to think about during your travels and to carry the quirks of Philly’s art scene with you all around the world.
