PIT Highlights Its Art Installations as Travelers Arrive for the 59th Carnegie International

PHOTO COURTESY OF BLUE SKY NEWS/BETH HOLLERICH | CREATED FOR THE 1958 CARNEGIE INTERNATIONAL, THE ALEXANDER CALDER MOBILE HAS BEEN A FIXTURE AT PIT SINCE 1959.

As the 59th Carnegie International draws visitors from around the world, Pittsburgh International Airport says it will serve as the region’s “front door” to art lovers, welcoming travelers “with a reminder that the region’s cultural experience begins the moment they arrive at the airport.”

Following completed construction on the airport’s new terminal in November, officials commissioned artists to create new, permanent works that have been installed at 30 locations throughout its campus as part of its Art in the Airport program. The goal, officials say, is to build “Pittsburgh” into the airport, creating a space built for Pittsburgh, by Pittsburgh, and sharing a sense of the region with all who may visit. 

“We chose artists who were able to come in from the community from 150 miles around Pittsburgh who have a good regional voice,” says Keny Marshall, PIT’s arts and culture manager.

According to Blue Sky News, artists such as Fredy Huamann Mallqui, who hails from Erie,, provide a unique perspective from within the regional community. His hand-carved wood sculptures, entitled “Connections,” are on display in the new PIT terminal in baggage claim.

“It’s related to my own experience as a migrant from Peru when I came in 2012, and connecting with other people, with other cultures,” Mallqui says.

The work of local craftspeople has added further depth to the airport’s design. These artisans were engaged to share their perspectives on the Pittsburgh region through their work, adding distinctiveness and authenticity to the transformed PIT experience, airport officials say.

One of those craftspeople is Jason Boone, owner of Urban Tree, a local, full-cycle woodworking shop. Boone and his team reclaim trees from Pittsburgh’s urban forest, shaping them into one-of-a-kind, usable furniture pieces. Those same trees have been transformed into frames for PIT’s new flight information display systems — known in the aviation community as FIDS — that have been placed throughout the airport.   

Other local artisans include Limelight Tile and Brian Peters Studio, both of which crafted specialized tiling within the new PIT terminal’s restrooms. Transit Forge of Cambridge Springs produced custom wrought-aluminum vases and coat hooks for those same restrooms.

“This airport is Pittsburgh’s airport,” says PIT CEO Christina Cassotis. “When you land here, you’re going to feel like you’re home, or you’re going to think, ‘Wow! I didn’t know that about Pittsburgh.’”

In addition to new work, the Art in the Airport program has reimagined its signage and website presence, giving travelers an easy and interactive way to explore the airport’s public art collection. At each art location, viewers can read about the work and scan custom QR codes to access detailed information about each artist and artwork, including its location, background and significance.

Additional art throughout the airport includes “Surrounding Waterways” by Chris Craychee, which is on display in the departures level restrooms; “Look Up” by Ramon Riley, in the customer service building restrooms; “Immersion: A Pittsburgh Sound Portrait” by Narduli Studio at the terminal escalators; and “Portals” by Alisha Wormsley, located in the international arrivals area.

The 59th Carnegie International, titled “If the word we,” features work by 61 artists from around the world. It is regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious contemporary art exhibitions and the longest running exhibition of international art in North America. 

The new art pieces complement longstanding pieces throughout the airport, including an art installation that was originally created for the Carnegie International in 1958; “Pittsburgh,” a kinetic sculpture by  Alexander Calder, has been a landmark display at three generations of Pittsburgh airport terminals since 1959.

You can check out the 59th Carnegie International, centered at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Oakland, through Jan. 3, 2027.