Yinka Shonibare to feature in landmark public art programme at JFK Airport

Yinka Shonibare has been selected to create a major public artwork for the new $9.5 billion New Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York. Commissioned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and New Terminal One, the project brings together seven internationally recognised artists to produce large-scale, site-specific works celebrating the creativity and diversity of New York City.

Shonibare’s installation, Kites for Queens, will feature nine hand-painted Dutch wax batik kites that celebrate the multicultural identity of the borough and allude to the movement of people, migration, and global relations at large.

Opening in phases from 2026, the terminal’s cultural programme, developed by Arup, Pentagram, and Culture Corps, will integrate public art, filmmaking, and immersive digital experiences. Commissioned artists include: Yinka Shonibare, Kelly Akashi, Firelei Báez, Julie Curtiss, Woody De Othello, Ilana Savdie, and Tomás Saraceno.