Insider tips: See the massive art collection at Houston’s George Bush International Airport
Sprawling George Bush International Airport (IAH), located about 23 miles north of downtown Houston, served more than 45 million passengers in 2019 (pre-pandemic), and with Houston’s Hobby Airport it is home to one of the largest collections of public art in Texas.
Selections from the more than 350-piece collection can be found in every terminal at IAH airport and in some ‘hidden’ locations. During a recent layover at IAH, I joined Alton DuLaney, Director and Curator of the Public Art Program for the Houston Airport System, on a fast-paced tour of the collection. Here are some of the highlights and insider tips he shared.
Our tour began in Terminal C, which features 34 works of art by Houston artists acquired and installed in 2019 thanks to a partnership with United Airlines. Stop one was at a piece titled World Map, Houston Nexus, by Nick Vaughan and Jake Margolin.
“Their work traditionally explores places of historical significance to the gay liberation movement across the United States,” says DuLaney, “and this piece was created specifically for the airport. So, they started in Houston’s gay neighborhood – Montrose – and spent thousands of hours on the layered and hand-cut maps in the piece.”
We motored over to Parade of Art Cars by local art car painter Robynn Sanders. Houston hosts one the country’s largest art car parades, and for this installation Sanders has painted the side panels of a Ford-150 Truck, a Mini Cooper, a Mustang Convertible and a Porsche 911. “It doesn’t get more Houston than the art car parade,” says DuLaney. “And this piece really encapsulates a Houston moment for passengers.”
This set of eight photo-based works by San Antonio-born Harvard and MIT lecturer Dario Robleto references art, space and rock ‘n’ roll culture. “The work has a double meaning,” explains DuLaney. “The images are actually altered photographs and are the night sky after the stars have faded. He uses album covers with bands that have recorded live albums. Then he goes in and photoshops out the bands and the instruments so that all that’s left are the stage lights.”
The Great Blue is by Houston artist Anat Ronen, who has painted large murals of wildlife throughout the city. “This an oversized painting of a blue heron, a bird that is indigenous to the region,” notes DuLaney. “It has the Houston skyline and the bayou behind it, and is one of the ‘hidden’ Houston pieces passengers will see only if they use the connector tunnel to walk between Terminals C and B.
Also in the tunnel, is a series of eight large-format photographs of Texas landscapes by renowned photographer and Rice University Professor Geoff Winningham. “They are all contemporary works of different areas around Houston, but they seem really timeless,” says DuLaney.
The colorful, 45-foot-long selfie-friendly Greetings from Houston mural by Daniel Anguilu and Frank Nathan greets passengers in Terminal A North. Created over two days in 2020, the mural includes symbolism referencing the Texas flag, an airplane, the state of Texas (with a drop of oil) and birds representing flight.
In the quiet Terminal A Connector Gallery there are 20 vitrines filled with new and existing artwork from the collection. One vitrine displays Quest, by Houston’s Bert L. Long, Jr., an offbeat assemblage of travel-related items. Another vitrine displays Fiesta Dancers by Luis Jimenez, paired with High Flying by Larry Schuekler. “Both sculptures explore the joy of dance from two different cultural perspectives,” says DuLaney.
As our tour ends, DuLaney shares two bonus insider tips for art fans. One is the 25-foot-tall bronze cast of an oak tree in Terminal A. The work, titled Countree Music, is by artist and singer-songwriter Terry Allen and was one of the first works purchased for the City of Houston Public Art Collection back in 1999.
The Countree Music tree sits on a terrazzo floor that depicts a map showing Houston as the center of the world. And if you stop and listen, you’ll hear selections from an original soundtrack of 16 songs recorded by Allen with the help of various musicians including David Byrne from the Talking Heads.
To reach the final stop of our art tour of IAH, DuLaney leads us to an elevator in the back of the Duty Free shop in Terminal D, which gives us access to the ‘hidden’ Mezzanine Gallery in the hallway outside the Amex Centurion Lounge. “The gallery features nearly 20 paintings by some of Texas’ most talented artists, and it is a great place to hang out and enjoy art in a quiet and leisurely atmosphere,” says DuLaney.
The Houston Airports collection of artworks by Texas artists is growing. In August 2021, Houston Airports and the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA) announced the purchase of 74 additional pieces. Most have already been installed, and several larger artworks have been commissioned and are being created.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
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- Terms Apply.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.