Posting Language
Title
Authorize negotiation and execution of an agreement with Anahita Bradberry Studio LLC in an amount not to exceed $832,000 for artwork for the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Lower-Level Pedestrian Crossings Art in Public Places Project. Funding: $124,000 is available in the Capital Budget of Aviation Department. Funding for the remaining years of the agreement is contingent upon available funding in future budgets.
De
Lead Department
Office of Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment.
Fiscal Note
Funding in the amount of $124,000 is available in the Capital Budget of the Aviation Department. Funding for the remaining $708,000 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; Morgan 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 Lower-Level Pedestrian Crossings AIPP Project, naming Anahita Bradberry Studio LLC as the selected artist and Kemba Opio as the alternate for the $832,000 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 Lower-Level Pedestrian Crossings AIPP Project, naming Anahita Bradberry Studio LLC as the selected artist and Kemba Opio as the alternate for the $832,000 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 aligned with the AEDP at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). Developed through a partnership between the Office of Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment (ACME) and the Department of Aviation, this multi-phase plan was approved by the Arts Commission in August 2024.
Phase II opportunities reflect a strategic shift to prioritize Texas-based artists, with a strong focus on advancing creative access and highlighting the diversity of talent across the state. Of the seven commissions awarded in Phase II, four were granted to Austin-based artists, reinforcing the City’s commitment to local voices.
Artist Selection Process: Lower-Level Pedestrian Crossings AIPP Project
This opportunity was one of several Phase II commissions solicited through a statewide Request for Qualifications (RFQ):
Application & Outreach:
• RFQ released: January 3, 2025
• Submittal Deadline: February 2, 2025
• Public notices were issued via PublicArtist.org, City social media, and the Economic Development Department newsletter.
• Artist info and pre-submittal meetings were held on January 22 and 23, 2025.
• 195 total applications were received; 112 met minimum qualifications.
Panel Review & Interviews:
• A panel of art professionals and community representatives reviewed applications on March 4, 2025.
• Finalist interviews occurred on March 21, March 25, and April 1, 2025.
Final Recommendation:
• Recommended Artist: Anahita Bradberry - Austin, 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
Anahita (Ani) Bradberry is an Iranian-American artist and writer based in Austin, Texas. Her work centers on sculptural situations created using plasma light-the fourth state of matter. Bradberry’s artistic practice is known for exploring organic forms and minimal geometries, using light-filled glass vessels to activate space and invite public engagement. Her immersive installations are rooted in both scientific inquiry and poetic expression, making her uniquely suited to interpret the flow and energy of the airport’s lower-level crossings.
Project Context Within the AUS AIPP Plan
This project is one of seven Phase II AIPP commissions at AUS. While Phase I engaged national artists, Phase II emphasizes opportunities for Texas-based creatives, with significant representation from Austin. Phase III will be exclusively reserved for Austin-based artists.
This tiered structure:
• Ensures national excellence through phased integration,
• Prioritizes regional and local creative voices, and
• Aligns with the broader infrastructure development timeline of AUS.
All AIPP projects are expected to be completed by 2030, aligning with the full opening of the new concourse and terminal facilities.