Arts in the Airport
From 2009 – 2025, the Arts & Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville and the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority (McGhee Tyson Airport) presented a semi-annual exhibition entitled “Arts in the Airport”. This juried exhibition was developed to allow regional artists to compete and display work in the most visited site in the area. The selected art featured contemporary 2- and 3-dimensional artwork and was exhibited in the secured area behind McGhee Tyson Airport’s security gate checkpoint for six months at a time. Approximately 35-40 works comprised each exhibition.
The exhibitions are on hiatus while the airport undergoes construction. Stay tuned!
Past exhibitions:
Fall 2024 – Winter 2025 (Juror: Heather Wetzel)
Spring-Summer 2024 (Juror: Mary Laube)
Fall 2023 – Winter 2024 (Juror: John Powers)
Spring-Summer 2023 (Juror: Claudio Gómez)
Fall 2022 – Winter 2023 (Juror: Terri Jordan)
Spring-Summer 2022 (Juror: Althea Murphy-Price)
Fall 2021 – Winter 2022 (Juror: Mary Laube)
Spring-Summer 2021 exhibition (Juror: Caroline Covington)
Fall 2020 – Winter 2021 exhibition (Juror: John Powers)
Spring-Summer 2020 exhibition (Juror: Jim Scarsella)
Spring-Summer 2019 exhibition (Juror: Jered Sprecher)
Fall 2018 – Winter 2019 exhibition (Juror: Jordan Ahlers)
Spring-Summer 2018 exhibition (Juror: Jessica Wohl)
Fall 2017 – Winter 2018 exhibition (Juror: John Douglas Powers)
Spring-Summer 2017 exhibition (Juror: Terri Jordan)
Fall 2016 – Winter 2017 exhibition (Jurors: Kelly Hider and Bill May)
Spring-Summer 2016 exhibition (Juror: Terri Jordan)
Fall 2015 – Winter 2016 exhibition (Juror: Stephen Wicks)
Spring – Summer 2015 exhibition (Juror: Dorothy Habel)
Fall 2014 – Winter 2015 exhibition (Juror: Joshua Bienko)
Spring – Summer 2014 exhibition (Juror: Jeffrey Morton)
Fall 2013 – Winter 2014 exhibition (Juror: Jeffrey Morton)
Spring-Summer 2013 exhibition (Juror: Dorothy Habel)
Fall 2012 – Winter 2013 exhibition (Juror: Dorothy Habel)
Spring-Summer 2012 exhibition (Juror: Dorothy Habel)
Fall 2011 – Winter 2012 exhibition (Juror: Dorothy Habel)
Spring – Summer 2011 exhibition (Juror: Stephen Wicks)
Fall 2010 – Winter 2011 exhibition (Juror: Stephen Wicks)
Spring – Summer 2010 exhibition (Juror: Stephen Wicks)
Fall 2009 – Winter 2010 exhibition (Juror: Stephen Wicks)
Spring – Summer 2009 exhibition (Juror: Stephen Wicks)
“Wow!!!! This experience is perfectly win/win!!!! Beautiful art works; space to view them; at a time most folks absolutely HATE
i.e. waiting in an airport. I’m blown away. Thank you!!!” Emailed received April 2024
“I am beyond impressed with the art exhibit in the airport! What a brilliant move to elevate the voices of local artists! This week, I purchased a piece on display in the Knoxville airport. I was in town in not long ago, saw it while I was waiting for my flight, loved it, and promised myself that if it was still available on my next trip, I would purchase it. I travel significantly for work, but because my trips have a quick turnaround, I do not ever have time to visit local art galleries. One of the most ingenious uses of space I’ve ever seen is prominently displaying art in the center of a captive audience! This model should be replicated everywhere. I cannot commend the Arts and Cultural Alliance enough for such a strong use of the airport partnership to get exposure for the arts in Knoxville! I love that there must be Knoxville art all over the country because passengers saw amazing pieces and couldn’t resist bringing them back to their corner of the US! I look forward to my return trips through this airport; I will be searching for my next acquisition!” Feedback from buyer of artwork (residing in Boston) in March 2024
“Just passing through Knoxville airport on my way back to Australia. I LOVE the exhibition of art at the airport. It made my time waiting for boarding so much more enriching. Great idea. Great exposure for artists. Thank you and the Airport.” E-mail received on September 29, 2018
“We usually get there [the airport] early so we can spend some extra time enjoying the exhibition.”
Phone call from an artist residing in Florida on May 2, 2016
“This exhibition is a nice mix. It’s an honest show… so accessible to visitors!”
Phone call from an artist residing in Colorado on August 17, 2015
“Nicely done exhibit at McGhee Tyson! (I’m writing to you from the airport.) Great to see local talent exposed to a larger audience.”
E-mail message received January 9, 2015
“The exhibition is very well done… It shows a tremendous diversity of art and makes a very positive statement about art in our community.”
E-mail message received May 10, 2013 from an artist
“I always enjoy the art at the airport and have been inspired by it all to participate this time.”
E-mail message received March 26, 2013 from an artist
“Thank you all very much for the GREAT art display at McGhee Tyson Airport. I travel through this airport a number of times each year and enjoy the exhibit of local artists.”
E-mail message received June 6, 2012
“This is a really nice collection of art this time at the airport. It’s probably the best overall collection I’ve seen, and some are pretty marvelous. I just wanted to compliment you on the selection. All of the business travelers are coming by, looking at the artwork, and I’m sure they get the sense Knoxville is a prosperous city that supports the arts. It gives a really good impression of the place!”
Phone message received May 18, 2011
“I just saw your show “Arts in the Airport”. I wanted to let you know it is one of the finest exhibitions of talent and art I’ve ever seen, especially in an airport… it speaks so highly of what Knoxville really is. I’m from St. Louis and an artist, and I know what art can do. It’s just a remarkable show of talent!”
Phone message received October 4, 2010
Vist the McGhee Tyson Airport’s website for additional information on the exhibition and the artists: www.flyknoxville.com.