Along with world-class upgraded amenities, the all-new Terminal 1 will showcase five stunning, commissioned art pieces—each a permanent tribute to San Diego’s vibrant history and lifestyle. These masterfully crafted monumental artworks add a unique touch of creativity and culture for all to enjoy. As we count down to our grand opening this summer, these extraordinary pieces are being installed—bringing the spirit of San Diego to life like never before.

 A Day in the Sun by Amy Ellingson 

@amyellingsonartist

Six columns of colorful smalti glass tile will greet passengers as they exit the TSA security area and enter the transitional space known as the recomposure area. The column mosaics evoke the spaces glimpsed between coastal pier piles, evoking the ocean, the shore and the sky. The columns, created with Ellingson's unique abstract digital designs, are colored to represent different times of day. The column on the left (west) uses warm red mosaic tiles to symbolize sunset, while the column on the right (east) features cooler colors to represent sunrise.

Migrations by Walter Hood

@hooddesignstudio

Influenced by indigenous, colonial, and immigrant stories, artist Walter Hood created two monumental sculptures, standing 20 and 40 feet tall, that will sit at the gateway entrance to Terminal 1. Drawing inspiration from bird migrations along the Pacific Flyway, the sculptures explore the theme of birds as symbols of transcendence, rebirth, and freedom across cultures. At the center of each sculpture are papel picado-inspired patterns of flight created by local children, embodying the joy and wonder of flying.

RISE by Matthew Mazzotta

@matthewmazzotta

RISE is a larger-than-life sculpture of a jellyfish, a performance space and a shade structure. It is inspired by the Purple Striped Jellyfish commonly found just off San Diego's coast. The jellyfish’s head/canopy is made of a special architectural chainmail material that moves with the wind, creating a spectacular sense of dynamic vitality. Located on the eastern end of Terminal 1 at the curbside plaza, the jellyfish canopy will cast shade onto passengers throughout the times of the day with the most direct sun. Art with an eco-message, RISE acts as a gentle reminder that if the changing climate raises the sea level in the future, there might one day be an actual jellyfish where the sculpture is located.

Torrey Pines by Nova Jiang

 @hellonova

San Diego’s iconic native plant, the Torrey Pine, is featured in this artwork at the ticketing lobby, providing passengers a sense of place. Artist Nova Jiang is fascinated by the way Torrey Pine needles can draw water from the marine layer as a survival strategy in the arid climate, and their static yet wind-bent branches. The sculpture takes the form of three suspended trees with their wind-sculpted canopies replaced by a single stream of water traveling through the air. Two-dimensional, polished gold-finished steel plates are waterjet cut and suspended to create the complicated interlocking form, catching and reflecting the unique light of San Diego on the traveling public below.

Vessel of Light Erwin Redl

@erwinredl

An interactive light installation consisting of triangles that respond to the on-stage music and ambient noise. Vessel of Light consists of a soft, curved shape of hundreds of custom lights suspended above the Terminal 1 Food Hall performance stage. The artwork pays homage to the famous basketry of the Luiseno, Cahuilla, Cupeno, Kumeyaay, and Northern Diegueño tribes of the San Diego region, with the triangular shape of the individual lights referencing the dominant motifs found in their indigenous craft. This light canopy creates a visual umbrella above the stage, while the programmable LED fixtures interact with the sound, visually emanating the energy of the music.