Public Art at LAX Airport

Art can be found in the most unlikely of places: Busy airports.

With more than 50 million passengers a year, LAX International Airport has the unique opportunity to showcase its arrangement of art reflective of the creative Los Angeles community.

Over the years, LAX has become more than just an emblem of transportation. It has also become a fixture of the L.A. art scene and a creative space for passengers to reflect and admire a piece of art while waiting to board a flight.

"We try to find those spaces where people might be waiting and really look at how art can transform those areas," Sarah Cifarelli, airport art manager at LAX, told KCET's Artbound.

With dozens of beautifully-lit neon pylons, intricate mosaic designs, and art installations situated in various terminals and baggage claim areas, it can be easy to forget that you're at an actual airport, and not a museum.

"By interacting with some of the artwork, it might help them slow down for a moment and take something in that they hadn't talked about. It enhances the experience at the airport."

Some of the most recent installations include #LAXPoppies, a series of colorful illustrations of flower bouquets that symbolize the anticipation of an arrival of loved ones through busy terminals. One of the most popular installations include Joyce Dallal's intricate display of origami paper airplanes imprinted with international treaties and fundamental rights.

The next time you board a flight at LAX, you can be sure to be greeted by a colorful display of art by Angelenos.

Featuring Interviews With:

• Sarah Cifarelli, airport art manager, Los Angeles World Airports