TPA issuing Call for Artists to expand art collection

Tampa International Airport is expanding its world-renowned Public Art Program, preparing to issue a Call for Artists to create commissions for eight new locations across Airport facilities.

Starting Feb. 5, 2026, artists or artist teams will be invited to send in samples of their work so they can be considered for a chance to create one of the installations.

Six of the locations will be in TPA's forthcoming Airside D, the new 16-gate international and domestic Airside currently under construction at the Airport. One new installation will be designated for each of the two newly expanded security screening checkpoints in Airsides A and E, which opened in 2025.

The Call for Artists is open to visual artists working in any medium with experience executing their ideas from concept to installation completion, meeting a specified budget and timeframe, and working in the public realm with public agencies.

Entries will be accepted on the artist platform CaFÉ, which can be accessed here. The Call for Artists opens on Feb. 5 and closes on March 19.

"Tampa International Airport is growing its award-winning art collection by seeking the participation of local, state, national and international artists," Chief Commercial Officer Chris Minner said. "The new works of art will be original, creative, and help us welcome the tens of millions of travelers TPA hosts each year."

The total budget allocated for this Call for Artists is $5 million in Airside D as part of Phase 3 of the Master Plan. The budget for public art inside the security screening checkpoints in Airsides A and E is a combined $820,000. Commissions include artists' design fees, materials, fabrication, artist travel and final installation, including necessary sub-contracted costs.

The Call for Artists process has two phases: During the first phase, a Technical Evaluation Committee will conduct a review of all CaFÈ-submitted applications and will develop a short list of Qualified Artists.

During the second phase, the Airport Public Art Committee will invite artists from the group of Qualified Artists to submit a proposal. The proposal will include a $4,000 stipend to each invited artist or artist team to allow them to develop 3-D views, a maquette, and photographs of a model or other representation to clearly communicate their concept and design intent.

The Public Art Committee will evaluate the proposals and select one finalist for each opportunity. Each finalist will be presented to the board for final approval and contract award.

In recent years, TPA has completed 16 new public art installations, including a world-famous 21-foot pink flamingo sculpture in the Main Terminal popularly known as Phoebe.

A wide range of forms and media for the artwork will be considered for the new commissions, including freestanding sculpture, wall-mounted or ceiling-hung art, technology-based art and possibly functional elements.

Artists or teams of artists looking to submit to the Call for Artists must confirm that they have completed a commission or sold one piece of artwork for at a minimum of $15,000.

More information, including more specifics on submission requirements and an FAQ, is available on the TPA Call for Artists page .

Artists with questions about the process and TPA's Public Art Program should contact Senior Procurement Agent Rayesha Cotton at [email protected].