Sunport Dedicates New Mural Celebrating Culture, Community, and Connection
ALBUQUERQUE — Today, Mayor Tim Keller and Albuquerque International Sunport officials dedicated We Are of the Mountain, a new mixed-media mural by New Mexican artist J P 제 피. Located on the TSA North Wall, the piece is a key element of the Sunport’s $90 million Dream of Flight terminal renovation. The airport committed $3.2 million, approximately 3.5% of the total budget, to expand its art collection, marking the largest investment in public art in the Sunport’s history.
“Public art defines the spirit of our city and ensures our airport reflects the vibrant, inclusive community we are building,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “This historic investment in local and diverse artists turns the Sunport into a vibrant front door to New Mexico.”
Inspired by both the Sandia Mountains and a traditional Korean royal art depicting five sacred mountains, We Are of the Mountain connects New Mexican and Korean traditions while celebrating the global spiritual significance of mountain landscapes. The work traces a geographic parallel along the 35th parallel north, bridging Albuquerque’s Bosque with Jirisan Mountain in Korea.
“Works like JP’s don’t just beautify our terminal, they also tell our story, welcome travelers from every corner of the globe, and create a strong cultural identity where both residents and visitors feel deeply connected,” said Aviation Director Manny Manriquez.
The mural is one of several new works commissioned as part of the airport’s Dream of Flight renovation. The airport’s expanded art collection represents a range of artistic styles and mediums and reflects the cultural diversity, creativity and heritage of the Land of Enchantment.
The ‘We’ in the title is inclusive of the people and place of Albuquerque, which has a mountain range,” said J P 제 피. “This mural draws connections between land, mountains, trees, culture and community. It is both culturally specific and expansive, creating a sense of place that is distinctly New Mexico while connecting people and cultures across the world.”
About the Artist & New Art Acquisitions:
- The Artist: J P 제 피 is a bicultural and gender-fluid artist, community builder and tree climber whose practice explores land, culture, and ancestry. Part of the Korean diaspora, JP’s work has been exhibited nationally, including at the New Mexico Museum of Art and the Vladem Contemporary.
- The Collection: Selected from 384 submissions to the Sunport’s call for artists, the art initiative also features incoming works by New Mexican artists Virgil Ortiz, Michael Toya, a lowrider-inspired installation by Sky Candy LLC and others.
Travelers can view interpretive information about We Are of the Mountain adjacent to the artwork.To view more photos of the event, click here.
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