Posting Language
Title
Authorize negotiation and execution of an agreement with Jasmine Azalea Zelaya for artwork for the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Arrivals Baggage Claim Art in Public Places Project for a total agreement amount not to exceed $1,000,000. Funding: $150,000 is available in the Capital Budget of the Aviation Department. Funding for the remaining $850,000 of this contract will be added as the construction phases begin.
De
Lead Department
Office of Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment.
Fiscal Note
Funding in the amount of $150,000 is available in the Capital Budget of the Aviation Department. Funding for the remaining $850,000 of this contract will be added as the construction phases begin.
For More Information:
Angela Means, Director, Office of Arts, Culture, Music & Entertainment, 512-974-1624; Mogan Messick, Assistant Director, Office of Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment, 512-974-7873.
Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action:
In August 2024, the Art in Public Places (AIPP) Panel and Arts Commission approved the “Art in Public Places Sites and Opportunities Plan for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport,” which identified and scoped three phases of AIPP opportunities within the current Airport Expansion & Development Program (AEDP).
On April 7, 2025, the AIPP Panel approved the selection process recommendation for the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Arrivals Baggage Claim AIPP Project, naming Jasmine Azalea Zelaya as the selected artist and Jasna Boudard as the alternate for the $1,000,000 commission. (Motion by Chair Lemmo, second by Panel Member Davis; approved 5-0-0, with one vacancy and Arts Commission Liaison Maldonado absent).
On April 21, 2025, the Austin Arts Commission approved the selection process recommendation for the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Arrivals Baggage Claim AIPP Project, naming Jasmine Azalea Zelaya as the selected artist and Jasna Boudard as the alternate for the $1,000,000 commission. (Motion by Vice Chair Schmalbach, second by Commissioner Houston; approved 6-0-1, with Commissioners Kracheni, Hussain, Gray, and Maldonado absent).
Additional Backup Information:
This commission is part of Phase II of the City’s AIPP initiative, developed in collaboration with the AEDP at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). The AIPP Sites and Opportunities Plan was jointly created by the Office of Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment and the Department of Aviation and approved by the Arts Commission in August 2024.
Phase II commissions emphasize the inclusion of Texas-based artists, supporting regional talent through a competitive and equitable selection process. Among the seven Phase II awards, four were granted to Austin-based artists, with the remaining commissions, including this project, highlighting the artistic excellence of creators from across the state.
Artist Selection Process: Arrivals Baggage Claim AIPP Project
This opportunity was part of a suite of Phase II AIPP projects selected through a statewide Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process:
Application & Outreach:
• RFQ released: January 3, 2025
• Submission Deadline: February 2, 2025
• Public call promoted via PublicArtist.org, the Economic Development Department newsletter, and City social media channels
• Artist info and pre-submittal meetings held January 22 and 23, 2025
• 195 applications were submitted, with 112 meeting minimum qualifications
Panel Review & Interviews:
• Panel reviewed submissions on March 4, 2025
• Finalist interviews were conducted on March 21, March 25, and April 1, 2025
Final Recommendation:
• Recommended Artist: Jasmine Zelaya - Houston, TX
The recommendation was approved by the AIPP Panel on April 7 and affirmed by the Austin Arts Commission on April 21, 2025.
About the Artist:
Jasmine Azalea Zelaya is a Houston-based, first-generation Honduran-American multidisciplinary artist whose work explores the intersection of cultural identity, assimilation, and familial memory. Drawing heavily from the aesthetic sensibilities of the 1970s-a decade significant to her parents’ immigration story-Zelaya’s practice is rich with symbolism, intimacy, and social reflection. Her unique voice will bring powerful visual storytelling to the Arrivals Baggage Claim area of AUS, welcoming travelers with a narrative that honors belonging and transformation.
Project Context Within the AUS AIPP Plan:
This project is one of seven Phase II commissions tied to the AUS AIPP Program. The phased plan begins with nationally focused artists in Phase I, shifts to Texas-based artists in Phase II, and culminates in Phase III with opportunities exclusively for Austin-based artists.
This approach:
• Advances excellence and inclusivity at every level,
• Uplifts regional artistic voices, and
• Aligns with the airport’s broader capital development milestones.
All AUS AIPP commissions are scheduled for completion by 2030, in time for the full opening of the expanded Arrivals and Departures Hall.