For millions of travelers each year, the first glimpse of Pinellas County comes not from a beach or museum—but from an airport terminal. At St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport, better known as PIE, the arts have become part of the travel experience, transforming a simple transportation hub into a gateway to the region’s vibrant creative culture.
Serving almost 2.8 million passengers annually, PIE has increasingly embraced its role as a cultural ambassador for the area. Through public art installations, rotating exhibitions, and collaborations with local organizations, the airport has become a gallery introducing visitors to the artistic spirit of Pinellas County.
Passengers walking through the terminal quickly notice that PIE is not just about boarding gates and baggage claim. Artwork appears throughout the airport—paintings, glass installations, ceramics, and mixed-media works created by Florida artists.
One of the most striking pieces greets visitors near the main entrance: a towering 45-foot blown and painted glass installation. Throughout the terminal, travelers encounter works from a wide range of regional artists, including glass artist Duncan McClellan, painter and enamel artist Mary Klein, and glass designer Guy Kemper.
The airport’s public art program highlights both established and emerging artists from the area, ensuring that the visual landscape reflects the creative diversity of the region.
In recent years, murals have added bold color to the airport’s airside corridors. Local artists Leo Gomez and Laura “Miss Crit” Spencer created large-scale murals near Gate 12 that greet travelers with imagery inspired by Florida’s landscapes and coastal environment.
Gomez’s mural evokes a dreamy Pinellas County sunset and includes the phrase “Go Easy,” reflecting the laid-back atmosphere visitors expect when they arrive in the Sunshine State and at PIE. Spencer’s work bursts with tropical flora and underwater imagery, celebrating the ecosystems that make the Gulf Coast unique.
These murals serve as visual reminders that visitors have arrived somewhere special.
A major step forward for the airport’s arts presence came with the opening of the Sightline Gallery, a dedicated exhibition space created through a partnership with Creative Pinellas.
Located near the airport’s gate areas and public spaces, the gallery hosts rotating exhibitions that showcase artists from across Pinellas County.
Exhibitions rotate several times each year, ensuring that returning travelers encounter new artwork and that a wide range of local artists gain exposure to a global audience.
Airports have long been gateways to cities, but PIE’s arts initiatives recognize something deeper: the arrival experience shapes how visitors perceive a destination.
By integrating art throughout the terminal, the airport introduces travelers to the region’s creative identity before they even leave the building. For some passengers, a mural or sculpture inside PIE may be their first encounter with the artistic energy that defines St. Petersburg and Pinellas County.
The County is internationally known for cultural institutions such as the The Dalí Museum and the Chihuly Collection, along with public murals, galleries, and art festivals.
For travelers heading to the beaches, downtown St. Petersburg, or the many arts districts of Pinellas County, the message is clear from the moment they step off the plane: You’ve arrived somewhere special, somewhere creative.
The new exhibition, “Rise” at St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport (PIE) marks another step in bringing the arts directly into the travel experience of Pinellas County visitors. Organized through a partnership with Creative Pinellas, the show transforms a busy part of the terminal into an art gallery (Sightline Gallery) celebrating local creativity and the spirit of renewal.
The Meaning Behind “Rise”
“Rise,” which runs through June 15, explores themes of renewal, growth, and the sense of place found in Florida’s landscapes and communities.
The exhibition brings together four artists whose work interprets the word “Rise” in both literal and symbolic ways:
Luci Westphal, whose photography captures birds in flight and angelic imagery that suggests uplift and hope.
Scott Solary, a woodworker, pieces often depict mountains, sunrises, and other natural forms associated with new beginnings.
Charles Morrison, a ceramic artist whose vessels emphasize the transformation of clay as it rises into shape.
Letisia Cruz, a poet whose words remind viewers that every day offers another chance to rise and start again.
Together, their work invites travelers to pause and reflect—even if only for a moment before boarding or when arriving.
