Arts in the Airport
The 18th Annual High School Visual Arts and Photography
Competition / Exhibition: “Memphis, Its Music, Sights and Sounds” took place on May 7, 2025.
2025 Winners
Paintings
- 1st Place (Tie): Rock N Soul: The Complete Memphis Music Story!, Rosie Deng, Collierville
- 1st Place (Tie): Blues and Bridges: The Sound of Memphis, liliana Khodor, Ridgeway
- 2nd Place: Memphis Blues, Anthony Smith, Kirby
- 3rd Place: Beale Blues, Kamsi Azogini, Collierville
-
- Rock N Soul: The Complete Memphis Music Story!, Rosie Deng, Collierville High School
-
- Blues and Bridges: The Sound of Memphis, Liliana Khodor, Ridgeway High School
-
- Memphis Blues, Anthony Smith, Kirby High School
-
- Beale Blues, Kamsiyochukwu Azogini, Collierville High School
Photography
- 1st Place: Timeless Memphis: A City of Black & White, Reyma Odetallah, Bartlett
- 2nd Place: Building Hope, Meiya Rollins, Arlington
- 3rd Place: Stax Records, Will Hargrave, Christian Brothers
-
- Timeless Memphis: A City of Black & White, Reyma Odetallah, Bartlett High School
-
- Building Hope, Meiya Rollins, Arlington High School
-
- Stax Records, Will Hargrave, Christian Brothers High School
Contest History
In 2008, Memphis International Airport launched an annual local visual art contest. Each year the top 45 works of art are selected and put on display along the walls in the airport’s B baggage claim area. Students are challenged to capture what they love about the city.
Each year a panel of judges evaluates the new works for theme, concept, composition and craftsmanship.
Memphis International Airport receives more than 300 entries, from which 45 are selected to become paintings for the airport’s exhibition along the walls in B baggage claim.
Performing Arts in the Airport
On the music stage in the terminal rotunda, various artists are featured throughout the year. Keep an eye on our social media channels for performance announcements and on our Music at MEM page.
Art Exhibits
Memphis International Airport hosts a variety of locally focused art exhibits. Our goal is to enrich the experience of travelers and provide them with a little insight into the culture, art and museums of Memphis. Much of the artwork on display is themed around the region’s musical heritage.
The artwork on display throughout the concourse is managed by the Urban Art Commission, who maintain an online gallery of every piece at this link: https://uacmem.org/airport/
Belz Museum of Asian & Judaic Art
Memphis International Airport has 20 pieces from the Belz Collection on display outside the Delta Sky Club in the connector.
This beautiful collection of art includes jadeite and jade vases, ivory balls and figurines, an intricately carved mammoth tusk, a model Judaica train, silver scroll cases and a handcrafted Judaica set. One of the most impressive pieces is the exquisitely carved mammoth tusk featuring a beautiful Chinese landscape. Perhaps the most intriguing piece in the display is an ivory mystery ball with 48 concentric layers.