JFK Terminal 4 Unveils Newly Commissioned Artwork
Terminal 4 at John F. Kennedy International Airport unveiled its latest commissioned artwork inspired by traditional and contemporary design elements, which shows illustrations of New York City’s five boroughs, immersing travelers in the spirit and authenticity of the city.
Hand-drawn by British-based artist Chris Dent, the four-month-long project is now displayed throughout Terminal 4’s corridors for travelers to enjoy. The artwork consists of 14 illustrations of iconic New York City locations such as the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty, along with18 smaller illustrations displaying NYC staples like subway trains, taxis, slices of pizza and coffee cups.
“We are excited to welcome our newest piece of commissioned artwork to the terminal,” said Gert-Jan de Graaff, president and CEO of JFKIAT, the company which operates Terminal 4. “Terminal 4 strives to provide its more than 21 million annual passengers with a sense of place and a stress-free travel experience. Chris Dent’s art prominently showcases New York City and we hope it leaves a lasting impression with travelers.”
“It has been an honor to create artwork for T4’s exciting rebrand, and I hope it captures the imagination of all Terminal 4’s travelers and visitors across the world,” said Dent. “New York City’s fascinating views left an unforgettable impression on me since my first visit as a teenager, and following that time, New York and its cityscapes have served as the focus of my artwork. The T4 project is my most comprehensive illustration of the City to date, and due to the sheer scale of the project, my already detailed style was multiplied ten-fold and my hand-drawn process pushed to its limit - an incredibly exciting and inspiring experience that every artist hopes to achieve.”
The artwork was commissioned as a part of the terminal’s branding initiative which launched in 2016. Terminal 4 pursued a light-hearted and friendly visual identity for the building to guide and delight its passengers, and partnered with international branding firm Base Design to create an iconic new logo and visual identity system.
Dent has decades of illustrative experience, having worked for several high profile clients from around the globe including Apple, Vogue, Nike, Volkswagen, Adidas, Wallpaper and ESPN.
Dent’s illustrations join Terminal 4’s uniquely-housed private art collection, including several other specially commissioned works such as “Flight” by Alexander Calder, “Curtain Wall” by Harry Roseman, and “Outside Time” by Dimitar Lukanov.
