Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is expanding accessible art experiences, from touch-friendly artwork to braille signage and immersive audio exhibitions.
This week’s picture of the week is from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), where the Phoenix Airport Museum is expanding accessible art experiences for passengers, from tactile artwork and sensory-friendly spaces to braille exhibition signage and immersive audio installations.
In Terminal 4, passengers can experience several touch-friendly artworks, including Six Columns by Ron Gasowski, a set of large-scale mosaic pillars near the terminal’s food court. Created by the artist with assistance from Phoenix elementary school students in 1989, the work features recognisable shapes, including faces, cars and cacti, embedded within the mosaic tiles. The tactile qualities of Six Columns offer passengers an opportunity to visually or physically explore the artwork, with its prominent location also serving as a useful visual way-finder near the food court.
For passengers who need a moment of respite, the exhibition Spectral Alchemy, currently in the Terminal 4 gallery on level 3, includes a quiet space where passengers can sit and reduce sensory input before continuing their journey. The space can be especially valuable for those who benefit from reduced noise and lighting, but is available to anyone who needs a peaceful place to pause.
The museum’s newest exhibition, WORD, features its first exhibition text panel incorporating braille letters, allowing visitors who read braille to independently access information about the artwork on display. The exhibition also features artists whose work is particularly striking through bold graphic elements, including Annie Lopez’ high-contrast cyanotype prints on tamale paper, Safwat Saleem’s graphically designed book covers, Beth Tom’s 12-foot-wide collaged canvas and Sawyer Boyd’s vividly painted, upcycled letters from old signage.
Accessibility also extends beyond the visual arts. In Terminal 3, post-security, the museum’s Sounds Like Arizona exhibition features an audio component highlighting dozens of Native American musicians who have recorded with Phoenix-based record label Canyon Records. Visitors can stand under an audio dome and listen to selections from the recordings, creating an immersive experience that invites passengers to engage with Arizona’s musical heritage through sound.
Passengers can also access ReBokeh, a mobile application designed for individuals with low vision, free of charge while visiting the airport.
The Phoenix Airport Museum is one of the largest airport art programmes in the country, with a mission to promote Arizona artists, culture and aviation history to passengers throughout Phoenix Sky Harbor. With more than 40 exhibition spaces located throughout the airport system, the museum offers visitors opportunities to discover local sources of creativity.
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