Asheville Regional Airport Invites Western North Carolina Artists to Create the Gateway to Home
Two Landmark Public Art Commissions Available in New AVL Terminal — Submission Deadline June 22
For the millions of travelers who pass through Asheville Regional Airport each year, the terminal is the first sight of home and the last glimpse of it before departure. Now, Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) is offering two artists, or artist-led teams, the opportunity to define that moment permanently.
AVL is actively seeking artists for two signature, large-scale commissions as part of AVL Forward, the airport's terminal modernization project. Artists from western North Carolina will be given preference and are encouraged to apply. The submission deadline is June 22, 2026.
Two Landmark Spaces. Unlimited Creative Possibility.
The RFQ identifies two distinct installation sites within the new terminal, each designed to accommodate ambitious, large-scale work.
Location 1: The Grand Lobby / Main Entrance
The grand lobby is the terminal’s central arrival moment — the sweeping public space that departing travelers enter first. The soaring new structure offers a rare canvas: suspended works of up to 2,000 pounds or floor-supported work can be designed for this location. Lighting and electrical connectivity are available, opening the door to kinetic, illuminated or interactive installations.
Location 2: The Airside Concessions Area
The post-security concessions space is where travelers linger — the heart of the concourse experience. Like the grand lobby, this space is engineered to support large-scale suspended art of up to 2,000 pounds or floor-based work. Lighting and electrical connectivity make dynamic or interactive media-based work possible here as well.
What AVL Is Looking For
The airport is seeking individual artists or artist-led teams that can produce permanent site-specific, large-scale commercial space sculptures or other styles of art pieces that uphold the key design principles for the new airport terminal, designed to be a “modern gateway, humbly rooted in timeless natural beauty.” Specific requirements for commissioned pieces, which will help guide final choices:
• The art will embrace inspiration from the natural beauty and culture of western North Carolina, and help create an authentic, welcoming environment that roots the airport with a sense of place in the region;
• The sculptures/art pieces will be appropriate for large-scale commercial spaces (appropriateness to site, durability, etc.);
• The proposed sculptures will be of the highest quality—creatively and compositionally;
• Art will not be politically or socially charged;
• Art will meet all public safety, structural, and maintenance standards (easily cleaned and maintained) and comply with the Americans for Disabilities Act (ADA), and all other applicable laws, codes and regulations.
There is no requirement for a specific style. Abstract, representational and all aesthetics in between are welcome. These are open commissions for artists with a vision and the craft to realize it.
How to Apply
Submissions are open now at www.flyavl.com/AVLForwardART The submission deadline is June 22, 2026. This RFQ is the first step in a multi-phase selection process. Finalists will be invited to develop detailed proposals, with installations anticipated ahead of the terminal’s completion in late 2027.
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ABOUT AVL
Serving more than 2.24 million passengers in 2025 Asheville Regional Airport is continuing its growth trajectory. The Airport is served by five airlines that provide nonstop service to 26 nonstop destinations. AVL’s terminal expansion project, known as AVL Forward, is the largest infrastructure investment in the airport’s history and will deliver a world-class travel experience. Guided by its mission to champion exceptional experiences and economic vitality, AVL is an authentic and convenient gateway for both business and adventure. Learn more at flyAVL.com.