One of the biggest first impressions of any city occurs when arriving at the airport.
Not only has the Shreveport Regional Airport been outfitted with new furniture and new restaurants, but it’s also about to tell our story — through new, local, original art, sculptures, and murals of guitars, restaurants, black bears, and more.
Art by Sheryl Cogdell
Our history, heroes, landscapes and culture will be on full display, welcoming all visitors, through Artport — a celebrated revolving art show series showcasing original artwork from local and regional artists, displayed at Shreveport Regional Airport.
According to Artport Director Abigail Simmons, Artport is one of the largest revolving art displays in an American airport.
original art by over 80 of our local and regional talent.
The art will be on display for three years at Shreveport Regional Airport as part of the exhibit titled “Artport 2025: In Southern Dimension” with artwork inspired by Shreveport-Bossier’s music legends, sports figures, iconic landmarks, festivals, natural landscapes and wildlife, and more.
Art by Carla Davis
Artport was founded in 1990 by the late Lewis Kalmbach as part of an initiative by the Airport Beautification Committee to welcome Independence Bowl attendees. In 2010, Kalmbach turned it over to Cindy Smith, owner of KSM Marketing Agency and the most recent opening night show in 2015 had over 1000 guests.
Art by Sarah-Katherine Semon
Artport 16 is returning after a 10-year hiatus. Of the 80 artists, 37 are returning Artport artists.
“It is my goal to make Shreveport Regional Airport a point of pride for our region. Having Artport return to the airport will help accomplish this and complement the many improvements currently underway at the airport,” director of airports Larry Blackwell said in a news release. “’In Southern Dimension’ is the perfect theme to showcase our region and provide a sense of place to all that visit our beautiful passenger terminal.”
Art by Gwen Talbot Hodges
Artports are traditionally celebrated with an opening night reception and a silent auction to benefit an area non-profit.
Opening Night
Inaugural Artport 1990 Opening Night Silent Auction
The opening night reception is from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 5. The event is open to the public, with free admission and free valet parking. There will be live entertainment by Windstorm, hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar, opportunities to purchase original artwork and limited-edition reproductions.
Art by Elizabeth Cliburn
During the event, the classic gallery-wrapped 36×36 canvas art will be displayed on easels before the checkpoint area during the event and then permanently installed in the airport the following week.
All murals, sculptures, large-format pieces, and digital media will be installed behind the checkpoint before the event. There will be guided tours on opening night to view that art.
Art by Katie Lowder
At the silent auction, the popular one-of-a-kind six-by-six ceramic tiles and bourbon bottles, designed and donated by participating artists, will be available again. Up for grabs are signed items by Hugh Jackman, James Burton, and more.
According to Smith, over 15 previous installments of Artport and silent auctions have raised over $135,000 for local organizations.
The next chance to attend an Artport opening night reception will be in 2028.
Art by Henry Price
The Artport 2025 artists and medium are:
Mural
Haley Kirton
Large Format
Christine Bailey
Irene Gallion
Stephanie McElhaney
Mike McSwain
Judy Presley
Kim Thompson
Sculpture
Shelton Meacham
Wesley Touchstone
Bill Usher
Digital
Jack Culbertson
Debra Roberson
Hannah Spence
Bob Thompson
Canvas – Music History
Jennifer Anderson
Linda Beecher
Sheryl Cogdell
Trinity Conant
Adena Helm
Leah McCall
Andy Meadows
Melba Miller
Tammy Randall
Stephanie Sanders
Dorsey Summerfield, Jr.
Canvas – Sports History
Anna Beth Witherington
Carla Davis
Travis Eck
Pennye King
Leia Lewis
Pam Saxton
Ron Smith
Canvas – Landscape/Wildlife
Shirlene Alexander
Maria Ashcraft
Ken Beatty
Noah Bounds
Lisa Brandeburg
Isabelle De Joya Vea
Lisandra Di Liberto Torres
Marabella Dunn
Don Edwards
Catherine Emmons
Chuck Gray
Cindy Griffin
Sena H. McWilliams
Karen Harrington
Ellie Hooper
Gregg Hornbeak
Diane Jones
Ronald Kidwell
Karen Lehr Lawley
Katie Lowder
Julie Miller
Rebecca Nesbitt Prosino
Dennis O’Bryant
Kathleen Pate-Rives
Carolyn Pitts
Henry Price
Kay R. Wallace
Rebeka Reed
June Rose Dowis
Sarah-Katherine Semon
Susan Sexton
Cindy Singletary
Amber Stroud
Gwen Talbot Hodges
Whitney Tates
Yuina Todman
Genevieve Tournebize
Mary Virginia Hill
Lindsey Waters
Jessica Welch
Leah Welch
Mark and Mike Mangham