The artwork for Concourse A is a meditation on three interconnected sources of sustainable energy that support human and plant life, solar power, hydropower and the cosmic realm.
All That Burns Brightly is an abstract depiction of the Sun as an abundant source of energy and golden light. It is surrounded by a colorful medley of planets, stars, and comets.
Cosmic Flow is a meditative and playful depiction of the expanse of our Universe, which stretches across billions of light years. This size is unfathomable to our imagination, and its vastness and unlimited potential can be a source of inspiration.
The Trees Are The Forest imagines hydropower being used to reforest our planet, turning it lush and fertile. Pittsburgh’s three rivers are abstractly represented, as are multi-hued abstractions of plants and flowers.
The use of dynamic geometries and vibrant colors imparts joyful transformation. To create the images, the artist collaged original paintings and drawings based on the key themes of the airport: nature, technology and community. The compositions relate to Pittsburgh’s unique landscape, history and people.
Materials: Digital Collage of Acrylic and Vinyl Paintings, Glass
Location: Concourse A, Post-security Terminal
Type: Collage
Sharmishta Ray’s piece is made up of universal color schemes, themes, and graphics found in multiple cultures around the world. Their work is a triptych, with the three pieces representing the sun/life, trees/growth, and the universe/time.
About the Artist
Sharmistha Ray is an interdisciplinary artist and art professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Their work explores cosmology and abstraction and spans painting, drawing, sculpture, installation and new media. Ray’s work has been exhibited in museums and galleries in the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Singapore and India and featured in The New York Times. Their permanent mosaic mural, commissioned by MTA Arts & Design at Grand Central Station in New York City, was completed collaboratively in 2025.
Photo courtesy of Sharmistha Ray
