IAH United Airlines Terminal B Welcome to Houston Baggage Claim Artwork Request for Qualifications
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Request for Qualifications
Civic Art Project for the United Airlines Terminal B at George Bush Intercontinental Airport
Welcome to Houston Baggage Claim Artwork
Budget: $350,000.00
Deadline: Monday, December 8, 11:59 PM CST
Location: United Airlines Terminal B at George Bush Intercontinental Airport; 2800 N Terminal Rd, Houston, TX 77032
Eligibility: Greater Houston Area
Only applications sent via Submittable will be considered.
Summary
United Airlines and Houston Arts Alliance requests the submission of qualifications from artists or artist-teams to design, fabricate, and install a permanent work of public art for the newly renovated Terminal B at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. One artist or artist-team will be selected for this commission opportunity. The commissioned artwork will be on permanent display and will be accessioned into the City of Houston’s Art Collection.
Travelers arriving in Houston will encounter the Baggage Claim Installation as they exit the terminal and await their luggage. This opportunity calls for a large, freestanding artwork that embodies Houston’s welcoming spirit and distinctive sense of place. The installation should celebrate the city’s vibrant culture, creativity, and spirit of innovation, reflecting what makes Houston inspiring for residents and visitors alike. Themes may draw from the city’s ecology, history, industry, cuisine, and the vibrant character of its neighborhoods and arts scene.
The Terminal B Transformation is a groundbreaking initiative led by United Airlines in partnership with the City of Houston and Houston Airports. The project is focused on reimagining the passenger experience through thoughtful design and sustainability. It incorporates innovative wayfinding and local design elements to ensure the terminal authentically represents Houston while providing an intuitive, welcoming experience for travelers.
Scope of Civic Art Project and Artwork Requirements
The United Terminal B Arrivals Level Baggage Claim commission seeks a bold, freestanding artwork or sculpture that will serve as a visual landmark and symbol of arrival to Houston. The work should embody the city’s welcoming spirit and distinctive sense of place. While it may reference Houston by name, this is not required; instead, it should express the essence of the city through form, color, and concept. The piece should be iconic, engaging, and photogenic, encouraging passengers to interact with it and share their experience.
The maximum installation area measures approximately 30 feet wide by 4 feet deep by 9 feet high. The artwork should maintain clear sightlines within the baggage claim area and be visually light and elegant in form, avoiding bulk or obstruction. One artist or artist team will be selected for this commission.
Commissioned artworks will be subject to the following requirements:
- Artwork must be freestanding, allow unimpeded access on all sides, and not create any dead-end conditions in circulation paths.
- Artwork must preserve clear sightlines to the baggage carousel and information display directly behind the installation area.
- Artwork should appear visually light and elegant, avoiding bulk or obstruction while maintaining a strong visual presence.
- Artwork should be family-friendly and suitable for display to diverse public audiences.
- Artwork must be free of safety hazards and meet or exceed City of Houston ADA requirements.
- Artwork should be resistant to graffiti and vandalism and require minimal maintenance.
- In the event that significant maintenance or repairs are needed, the artist should be available to consult or assist as needed.
- Artwork must have an expected lifespan of at least 20 years and make a significant artistic contribution to the City of Houston Art Collection.
Eligibility
THE FOLLOWING ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY:
Eligibility is open to all artists and artist-teams living or working in the Greater Houston Area and over 18 years of age. Preference/priority will be given to artists not currently represented in the City of Houston Civic Art Collection.
- Currently residing within in the Greater Houston Area: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, or Waller counties
- Artist/Artist Team must be able to work at the required scale and have availability to accomplish by the deadline of September 2026.
FOR REPRESENTATIVES INTERESTED IN APPLYING ON BEHALF OF ARTISTS:
- Galleries, agents, and representatives submitting applications for more than one artist must submit individual applications for each applicant.
- If multiple artists are included on the same application, the submission will be marked as ineligible.
Applications not meeting all eligibility criteria or application requirements will be withdrawn from consideration.
Location and Site
- United Airlines Terminal B at George Bush Intercontinental Airport; 2800 N Terminal Rd, Houston, TX 77032
- Any additional lighting required for proper viewing of artwork shall be provided as part of the art installation and approved and coordinated with architectural design team and contractor.
See linked site plans and images or more information.
Budget
The budget of $350,000.00 is inclusive of all work including, but not limited to, design proposals, artists’ fees, design, engineering, permitting, insurance costs for each year of the project, software, studio and project administration, travel, fabrication, all materials, installation, and required documentation.
Application Requirements
1. Artist(s) resume or CV, relevant information for any other key team members (2 pages maximum per artist or team member)
2. Artist Biography (250 words maximum or under 3 minutes)
3. Statement of Intent/Concept Brief (1,000 words maximum or under 5 minutes)
Statement of Intent is a declaration of your plans and your ideas for a specific project. A SOI is your chance to demonstrate your personality, professionalism, qualifications, enthusiasm for a project, and express why your work would be appropriate for this project.
4. Artist Statement (500 words maximum or under 3 minutes)
An artist statement is a written description of your work that helps the audience access or understand your artistic work. The purpose of the artist statement is to inform, add context, and present process and conceptual ideas to the viewer, which may include sources, ideas, and materials in your current practice.
5. Digital images of completed artworks.
Applicants should submit up to ten (10) images in JPEG format only with each image no larger than 2 MB. Each image should include information about artist, title, year completed, dimensions, material, commissioning entity, and budget or price (as applicable) for each image provided.
Selection Process
Houston Arts Alliance’s Civic Art Division will review all qualified submissions and select a shortlist of up to three artists or artist teams to develop concept proposals for the commission.
Artist qualifications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Demonstrated ability to create distinctive, site-specific artworks that respond to the location, purpose, and public context of the commission.
- A strong artistic voice that reflects creativity, originality, and a clear conceptual approach aligned with the spirit and identity of Houston.
- Experience producing visually compelling, durable works appropriate for high-traffic public environments.
- Aesthetic or cultural perspectives that expand and enrich the variety of artworks represented within the City of Houston Art Collection.
Contracting
United Airlines has engaged Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) to manage this project. The final commission will be issued through a single contract with HAA encompassing both design and fabrication. The selected artist must be able and willing to enter into this agreement with HAA.
Sample Contract: Attachment A2 - Artist Services Agreement for Design and Construction
Selected artists will also be required to sign a Visual Artist Rights Act (VARA) Waiver with the City of Houston as the artwork will be accessioned in the City of Houston Art Collection. View a sample of the waiver here.
Timeline
All dates are subject to change.
- RFQ released: Thursday, November 6, 2025
- Artist Info Session #1:** Thursday, November 13, 2025, 10:00 AM CST
- Artist Info Session #2:** Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 6:00 PM CST
- Deadline for questions: Wednesday, December 3, 2025
- RFQ submission deadline: Monday, December 8, 11:59 PM CST
- RFQ notification: Friday, December 19, 2025
The following section only applies to artists who advance to the RFP phase.
- RFP released to finalists: Friday, December 19, 2025
- RFP deadline: Monday, January 25, 2026, 11:59 PM CST
- Artist proposal presentations: Week of February 2, 2026
- Selected artist notified by HAA: Monday, February 9, 2026
- Contract released to artist: Monday, February 9, 2026
- Project completion: September 2026
**HAA will host two (2) artist information sessions about this RFQ via Zoom. Click the links below to register for a session.**
Artist Info Session #1 – Thursday, November 13, 2025, 10:00 AM CST: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/llbIAOiDR8Wc8jpnNwXSzg
Artist Info Session #2 – Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 6:00 PM CST:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/9VxGp8vJTWmXoVtE4n1axQ
Contact
For questions and/or more information, direct all inquiries to:
Houston Arts Alliance, Civic Art Division
Subject Line: RFQ Inquiry – United Terminal B Houston Baggage Claim Artwork
Please submit all questions in writing via email no later than Wednesday, December 3, 2025, 5:00 PM CST to Civicart@haatx.com. Questions will be answered as they are received and no later than Friday, December 5, 2025. All answers to questions received by the question due date will be posted publicly.