JFK International Airport is undergoing an extreme $19 billion makeover; construction began in February 2025. The new Terminal 6, a portion of which is estimated to cost $4.2 billion in renovations alone, is expected to be finished by 2028. The project is part of a larger plan to redesign the airport into the “world-class airport that New Yorkers deserve,” as announced by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.  

Terminal 6 will feature brand new lounges, 10 larger gates, a longer departure curb, upgraded TSA and baggage systems and new art installations curated to highlight the importance of art to New York history and social fabric. 

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has partnered with some of the city’s well-known cultural institutions to bring this idea to life. 

Each museum will contribute works that provoke thought in travelers while also reflecting the identity of New York.

The American Museum of Natural History has provided a tapestry that features images from its research divisions and scientific collections. 

Lincoln Center will showcase a 140-foot mural that highlights artists from its music, theater, dance and opera departments. 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art contributed images from 17 curatorial collections that span 5,000 years of global art. 

Multimedia artist and peace activist Yoko Ono partnered with the Museum of Modern Art to present a special installation inspired by Ono’s work in 2019, “PEACE is POWER.”

It aims to inspire travelers to consider Ono’s words on a deeper level and prompt reflection. 

Ono’s message complements the main goal of the installations, to “capture the diversity, energy and identity of New York City while creating moments of connection and inspiration for the travelers.” 

New York is often called a cultural melting pot, and more often, a cultural capital of the world. It is the place people go to start new beginnings, learn about themselves, history and what their futures hold. 

Art is used as a tool of expression by many and has been a part of New York’s rich history, continuously inspiring many. 

The new Terminal 6 ties all these aspects together into a neat little bow and presents them to travelers as they first arrive in New York.  

“What you’re seeing at JFK’s Terminal 6 is the increased recognition of the impact and the importance of art,” Rick Cotton, the executive director of the Port Authority, said. 

It’s a brilliant and captivating way to appreciate some of the greatest aspects of the city and all it has to offer.