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<\/p>\nThe last piece of a sweeping transformation of public art at Pittsburgh International Airport has been installed, marking a defining moment in the new terminal\u2019s Art in the Airport program.<\/p>\n
Open Columns by artist Patrick Marold comprises three steel columns now installed between the Terminal Garage and the new terminal. Each column ranges between 20 and 40 feet tall. People can enter the columns and look toward the sky, viewing the interplay between reflective bands that dissolve into the atmosphere.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s exciting to have an installation at Pittsburgh International Airport,\u201d Marold said during the installation last week. \u201cIt is exciting to be part of an airport just completing major (construction).\u201d<\/p>\n
For the airport, the installation is more than just another art installation. It is an ongoing symbol of arrival. With the new terminal opening in November 2025, the airport has positioned itself not only as a transportation hub but also as a cultural gateway, introducing millions of travelers to the region\u2019s deep artistic roots.<\/p>\n
The addition of Open Columns continues a multi-year effort to integrate art into the very fabric of the airport\u2019s new terminal. As part of the design, the airport partnered with artists from around the world to create site-specific works that elevate Pittsburgh\u2019s identity as a center for innovation and culture. In total, 16 new artists were commissioned, each contributing pieces that connect passengers with a sense of place.<\/p>\n
Each of the columns is comprised of weathering steel and stainless steel, which have been used as construction material in the region for over a century. Weathering steel, also known as Corten steel, has been used in several landmark buildings in the area, including the U.S. Steel Building in Downtown Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n
Collectively, they complement the varying perspectives and approaches of travelers, while referencing distinctive colors, forms, and textures of the region\u2019s landscape. They draw on Pittsburgh\u2019s historic and contemporary leadership in manufacturing, construction, and technology.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
From left, Keny Marshall, PIT\u2019s Arts and Culture Manager, artist Patrick Marold and public art consultant Renee Piechocki pose for a photograph in front of Marold\u2019s \u2018Open Columns\u2019 piece during installation on June 16, 2026. (Photo by Beth Hollerich)<\/p>\n
Keny Marshall, the airport\u2019s Arts and Culture Manager, said Open Columns embodies the airport\u2019s design philosophy of NaTeCo (Nature, Technology and Community) incorporated in all aspects of the new terminal.<\/p>\n
\u201cOpen Columns\u2019 use of weathering steel and highly polished stainless steel brings the region\u2019s history and technology together in a reflective space. The new terminal is a destination for travelers and the community,\u201d Marshall said.<\/p>\n
As passengers and visitors pass beneath Open Columns, they encounter the culmination of a vision years in the making\u2014one where art and infrastructure move together, and where every journey through Pittsburgh begins with a moment of inspiration.<\/p>\n
Marold\u2019s installation at PIT is his fourth at an airport and something he really enjoys.<\/p>\n
\u201cAir travel is so inspiring and something I really enjoy,\u201d he said. \u201cI try to get a window seat to enjoy the changing terrain below. Looking through the columns is like looking out of an airplane window, and I hope it gives the person the same kind of wonder I get when I look out of an airplane window.\u201d<\/p>\n