Saturday, July 19, 2025
In this era of experiential travel, airports are growing from transit hot spots into cultural gateways. That extraordinary makeover can perhaps best be appreciated at New York’s John F. Kennedy International (JFK), Atlanta’s Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International (ATL) in Georgia and Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International (FLL) in Florida. These airports are doing their part to show that travel doesn’t start at takeoff — it starts when you arrive at the terminal.
JFK: Pop Nostalgia And Art In Terminal 5
At JFK, though, travelers are welcomed with more than just boarding gates and duty-free shops. Steps from Terminal 5, the TWA Hotel reanimates Eero Saarinen’s iconic TWA Flight Center. And even if you aren’t there for a room, the hotel provides a time capsule of 20th-century airline history.
Visitors can tour exhibits with vintage TWA uniforms, admire original midcentury architecture, and drink cocktails in a renovated 1958 Lockheed Constellation that is now a bar. The space also acts as a museum in tribute to the golden age of aviation and its displays are designed to fire the imagination of airline enthusiasts and lovers of fine art alike.
The airport has also invested in permanent art, with New York-based pop artist Charles Fazzino contributing installation works with his colorful, energetic 3D murals in Terminal 8. These shows illustrate how JFK effortlessly combines art, memory and journey.
ATL: An Airport As A Huge Art Museum
One of the most art-centric airports in the United States, and it’s not just limited to contemporary art, it’s a massive display area for folk and traditional art, too. With more than 1,000 public pieces of art, rotating exhibitions, performing arts events, ATL turns the traveling experience into something akin to a visit to a cultural center.
Operated by the City of Atlanta Department of Aviation, it includes installations throughout terminal and concourse areas. Sculptures, murals, photographs, and even video art dot the terminal design, creating places for reflection for the passengers traversing the world’s busiest airport.
Patrons will be able to see works that highlight African American culture, Georgia-based artists and contemporary themes associated with Atlanta’s urban environment. It’s not just an art program — it’s a civic and cultural initiative that is of its place.
FLL: Culture In Every Corridor
Florida’s southeastern coast fliers enjoy this collection, thanks to theBroward County Public Art & Design Program at Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL). To date, FLL has installed over 65 site-specific artworks, including hand-laid terrazzo floor mosaics, to sculptural installations, to large scale-paintings.
Among the most arresting works is “A Journey” by Marielle Plaisir, in Terminal 1 — an evocative terrazzo artwork that is a meditation on migration, culture and oceanic journeys. The airport also showcases work from South Florida artists, rotating through gallery spaces dedicated to art that is visible to ticketed passengers and the public.
Those artistic contributions not only adorn FLL’s halls but make FLL a destination in its own right, mirroring the tropical beauty and variety of the area beyond.
Travel As Cultural Exploration
Of course, what JFK, ATL, and FLL have in common is that they are all part of the movement to make air travel a cultural experience. From curated museum-style exhibits to huge murals and permanent sculptures, these airports make the traveling experience for visitors a touch more enriching — before they even board their flight.
Art in airports has been shown to have a documented impact on traveler well-being. It’s been a long known fact that visual arts and live music in transit settings can help reduce anxiety and improve passenger orientation and experience. These airports, by prioritizing cultural enrichment, are not simply gateways to new places, but destinations themselves worth exploring.
Tips For The Culture-Seeking Travelers
Fudge a little extra time into your schedule and get there early so you won’t feel rushed through the exhibits. Plan in advance when you get to your connection airport, especially if it’s ATL or FLL, for which they have online-only directories dedicated to art? Map the murals in advance using airport guide s. Consider beyond security — many of the installations are open to non-flyers, especially pre-security. Take shots to represent the memories – especially as artsy excursions often come with perfect, meaningful and beautiful backgrounds.
Conclusion: Airports As First Welcome
The days of sterile, function-before-form airports are long gone. Today, JFK, ATL and FLL show that airports can be immersive introductions to a city’s art, culture and identity. Whether you’re a world traveler or jetting off for the first time, these terminals coax you to start your journey the minute you step inside—and where travel actually intersects with culture.
