Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation & Des Moines Airport Authority Announce Artists for New Des Moines International Terminal

July 25, 2024

Des Moines, Iowa (July 2024): The Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation and the Des
Moines Airport Authority are pleased to announce the artists chosen for five large-scale, site specific
art installations throughout the new airport terminal, slated to open in late 2026. To
support the artist selection and installation process, the Greater Des Moines Public Art
Foundation initiated a $4 million fundraising effort in late 2023 which, to date, has reached just
over 80% of the fundraising goal. This includes a $1 million contribution from the Ruan Family
Foundation and support from over 60 donors. Fundraising will continue through 2025.

Adam Frank, Alteronce Gumby, Gordon Huether, and Anne Lindberg were chosen from an
international pool of artists for four interior sites throughout the terminal. Through an open call to
artists living and working in Iowa, Matt Niebuhr / RDG Art Studio’s proposal was chosen for a
multi-faceted exterior site.

The highly visible spaces in the new terminal provide the opportunity for expansive and
engaging installations by these artists. All finalists were selected by a committee of
representatives from the Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation, the Des Moines Airport
Authority, and community stakeholders. Artists will have the artworks in place when the new
terminal opens. Owned by the Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation, they will be on
permanent loan to the Des Moines Airport Authority who will also be responsible for maintaining
the art.

Iowa-born artist Anne Lindberg will be featured in a site that consists of the wall above the
check-in counter and both terminal end walls adjacent to the check-in. The artwork will be
visible from the exterior approach, creating a sense of place upon arrival. Lindberg’s subtle and
sophisticated use of material and color will complement the terminal’s elegant architecture.
Lindberg is a Joan Mitchell Foundation grantee whose work is in collections worldwide,
including that of NYU Langone Health located in the Citicorp Building in New York and the
Richard Bolling Federal Building in Kansas City, MO. To read more about Lindberg’s
commissions and exhibitions, visit annelindberg.com.

The second site is comprised of the east and west glass panel walls of the new terminal’s
elevator enclosure. Visible from the first and second stories of the terminal, this work by New
York artist Adam Frank consists of both static images and moving projections. Frank’s
installation will engage visitors from all angles by bringing the natural world into the terminal.
Frank’s selected commissions include Stream at the San Antonio River Authority and Sunlight,
located at the Denver Department of Cultural Affairs. Read more about Frank and view images
at adamfrank.com.

A suspended artwork by Gordon Huether of California will grace the third site, located on the
terminal’s second floor. This artwork will hover over the meeter-greeter space where friends and
relatives gather to welcome passengers or see them off on their journey. Huether’s installation
for this space will pay homage to Iowa’s rivers. Huether is completing several site-specific
artworks for the Salt Lake City International Airport this year. His commissions are in over 70
public collections across the country. Find additional artist information and images at
gordonhuether.com.

The fourth site consists of an expansive wall adjacent to the meeter-greeter space. Alteronce
Gumby’s “tonal paintings” created from locally sourced calcite, moss agate, pearls and
chalcedony will provide a counterpoint to Huether’s airy installation. Gumby’s works are in the
collections of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York and Williams College Museum
of Art, Williamstown, MA. Gumby recently completed his first documentary, COLOR, with John
Campbell, and is currently preparing for his next solo exhibition at Nicola Vassell Gallery in
November 2024. Reach more about the New York City artist’s international exhibition and award
history at alteroncegumby.com.

The final site encompasses the exterior approach to the terminal and a series of adjacent bus
shelters. Niebuhr / RDG’s design will incorporate boldly colored “sentinels” along the approach
that allude to the region’s native plants. Bus shelter imagery will echo this celebration of
indigenous vegetation. Niebuhr / RDG were awarded the Design Excellence: Citation Award for
Small Projects, AIA Central States Region, 2023 and the Public Spaces Merit Award,
CODAworx, 2018. Additional information on the Studio’s public art projects can be viewed at
rdgusa.com/work/markets/public-art.

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About the Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation
Established in 2004, The Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation is a non-profit organization,
which recognizes that art belongs not just in galleries and museums, but also in streetscapes,
parks, buildings and infrastructures of a thriving community. Dedicated to envisioning,
developing, advancing and promoting public art projects, the Greater Des Moines Public Art
Foundation collaborates with local entities and artists to engage, inspire and enrich the lives of
residents and visitors to the community. Further information about the Des Moines International
Airport Public Art Project, including a list of donors to-date and details about how to contribute to
the Project, can be found here. For more information about the Foundation visit:
https://dsmpublicartfoundation.org, or socialize with us on Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/dsmpublicartfoundation and Instagram at @DSMPublicArt.

About the Des Moines Airport Authority
The Des Moines Airport Authority is an independent entity that oversees the operations and
maintenance of the Des Moines International Airport. The Airport Authority ensures the safety of
the Airport and works to improve the quality of air service making air travel to and from Des
Moines more convenient and pleasurable. For more information, visit www.flydsm.com and
follow @dsmairport on Twitter and DSM International Airport on Facebook.

The airport’s $445 million terminal will increase gate capacity by fifty percent, boosting central
Iowa’s economic development. The current terminal, built in 1948, is still in use today and hosts
over 3 million travelers a year as the gateway to Iowa, America’s Heartland. Through this new
terminal project, the Des Moines International Airport will be poised to increase air service and
accommodations enhancing the travel experience for all.