By the time it is completed in 2030, the new terminal at New York’s John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport will feature seven new large-scale commissions by the contemporary artists Yinka Shonibare, Kelly Akashi, Tomás Saraceno, Ilana Savdie, Julie Curtiss, Firelei Báez and Woody De Othello.
The terminal, dubbed New Terminal One, is being developed by a company of the same name and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the region’s transportation infrastructure including its three major airports. It is expected to cost $9.5bn, will begin to open in phases starting next year and, by the time it is complete in 2030, will span 2.6 million sq. ft. The terminal's 23 gates will be devoted entirely to international flights and have the capacity to accommodate as many 23 million passengers every year.
The artistic programme at New Terminal One is being curated by Culture Corps, an arts consultancy co-founded by Yvonne Force Villareal and Doreen Remen (who also co-founded the Art Production Fund). “Exemplary local and international artists participated in a selection process that resulted in a programme grounded in diverse voices and uplifting visions,” they said in a joint statement. “Each artwork is a testament to the magnetism of New York and an inspiring welcome or send off to the estimated 23 million annual voyagers from around the world.”
