Travelers flying into New York will soon be greeted by more than just baggage claims — they’ll step into a cultural experience curated by the city’s most iconic institutions.
Turning an Airport Into an Arts District
As part of the $4.2 billion redevelopment of JFK’s Terminal 6, a $22 million public art initiative is transforming the arrivals corridor into a gallery of New York’s finest. The Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts are all contributing to what feels like a miniature New York arts district inside the terminal.
Major Works and Collaborations
Highlights include a new project from MoMA in collaboration with Yoko Ono, expanding on her “Peace is Power” installation from 2019. Lincoln Center is preparing a sweeping 140-foot mural that celebrates its breadth of music, theater, dance, and opera. Meanwhile, The Met is showcasing works representing all 17 of its curatorial collections — a survey spanning more than 5,000 years of art. These contributions anchor an environment designed to inspire travelers the moment they step off the plane.
A Global Welcome With Local Roots
Beyond the marquee names, Public Art Fund will curate 19 permanent site-specific works, joined by rotating presentations from local talent through the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning. In total, pieces from 18 New York–based and international artists — including Barbara Kruger, Charles Gaines, Eddie Martinez, Laure Prouvost, and Haegue Yang — will shape the experience. It’s an ambitious effort to ensure Terminal 6 offers arriving visitors a distinctly New York welcome before they even leave the airport.
