Next time you’re at Gate 15, look up—Austin’s newest public art reflects the city’s explosive growth and vibrant community
If you’ve flown through Austin-Bergstrom International Airport lately, you might have noticed something new catching the light near Gate 15. Or maybe you were one of the lucky late-night travelers who watched it go up between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. over five September nights.
Convergence / Austin is the airport’s newest permanent art installation, and it’s worth arriving early for your flight to see.
What It Is
Created by Austin-based artist Beili Liu and her studio, Convergence / Austin is a massive installation spanning 16 feet by 12 feet in the high bay triangular area across from Gate 15 in the Barbara Jordan Terminal.
The piece features approximately 400 vertical strands holding 3,200 individual elements that create an ascending, fluid rhythm. It’s the kind of art that makes you stop mid-rush to your gate—immersive in scale, intricate in detail, and constantly changing as you move around it.
Why It Matters
“The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has been one of the fastest-growing airports in our nation, reflecting the impressive growth and increasing allure of our beloved city of Austin as an eclectic culture, arts, and technology destination,” said Beili Liu. “Convergence is an installation inspired by this spirit of growth. The title celebrates the moment when individuals come together to form an energetic, vibrant community.”
And that’s exactly what makes this piece special. It’s not just pretty airport decoration—it’s a reflection of what’s happening in Austin right now.
The installation symbolizes the intricate balance among diverse individuals and the powerful energy that emerges when people come together. In an airport, that’s literally happening all around you: business travelers meeting clients, families reuniting, musicians heading to gigs, tech workers building the next big thing, tourists discovering Austin for the first time.
“It encourages travelers to pause—to observe and contemplate, to connect and share,” the airport explains. In a place where everyone’s rushing to catch flights, that invitation to slow down and notice the moment feels radical.
The Details That Matter
Liu’s studio didn’t just create something beautiful—they created something practical for an airport environment.
The design uses lightweight materials that prevent birds from perching (a real concern in large open spaces). It also incorporates cleaning and maintenance measures to ensure the piece stays stunning for years to come. This is art built to last in one of Austin’s busiest public spaces.
Part of Something Bigger
Convergence / Austin is the latest addition to the airport’s Art in Public Places program, created in 1985 by Austin City Council. The program sets aside 2% of eligible capital improvement project budgets to commission artists or purchase art for city-owned facilities.
This piece was funded through the 9-gate Terminal Expansion Program II—and here’s something important: all airport facility projects are funded through airport-generated revenue, airport revenue bonds, and Federal Aviation Administration grants. Not a penny of local taxpayer money.
As Austin-Bergstrom continues its massive expansion (the airport is already handling more than 20 million passengers a year in a facility built for 15 million), the Art in Public Places program ensures that growth includes beauty, culture, and reflection.
Where to See It
You’ll find Convergence / Austin in the Barbara Jordan Terminal, in the high bay triangular area across from Gate 15. Even if you’re not flying out of that gate, it’s worth the walk.
The installation was completed by the morning of September 26, 2025, so it’s brand new. If you’re flying through Austin soon, add a few extra minutes to your airport arrival time and go see it.
Why Airport Art Matters
Airports are liminal spaces—places of transition, where you’re between where you were and where you’re going. They can feel sterile, stressful, disconnected.
Good airport art transforms that experience. It reminds you that you’re in a specific place with its own culture and identity. It gives you something to think about besides gate changes and baggage claim. It creates a moment of beauty in the middle of the chaos.
Convergence / Austin does all of that while capturing something essential about Austin itself: the energy that happens when diverse people come together, the creative spirit that defines the city, the way growth and community can coexist.
“The piece reflects the purpose, growth, and excellence of AUS,” the airport notes. “With its ascending, fluid rhythm, the artwork symbolizes the intricate balance among diverse individuals and the powerful energy that emerges when people come together as an evolving, vibrant community.”
That’s not just art-speak. That’s Austin.
More Airport Art
Convergence / Austin joins a rotating collection of permanent and temporary art installations throughout the airport. From sculptures to murals to interactive pieces, Austin-Bergstrom is committed to celebrating local and regional artists.
Want to explore more? Check out the full collection at austintexas.gov/department/art-aus.
The Bottom Line
Next time you’re flying through Austin-Bergstrom, look up. Look around. Notice the art that transforms a functional space into something meaningful.
Convergence / Austin is there to remind you of something we sometimes forget in the rush: the magic that happens when people come together, the energy of a city in motion, the beauty of connection in a place designed for departure.
It’s worth missing your pre-flight coffee to see.
Convergence / Austin
Artist: Beili Liu Studio (Austin-based)
Location: Barbara Jordan Terminal, high bay triangular area across from Gate 15
Size: 16 feet by 12 feet
Materials: Approximately 400 vertical strands holding 3,200 elements
Completed: September 26, 2025
Program: Art in Public Places (AIPP)
More info: austintexas.gov/department/art-aus
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