San Jose Airport: Lenticular Lab

The San Jose Airport's Art + Technology Program seeks artists to create large-format, dynamic artworks featuring lenticular printing for the Terminal B Mezzanine Art Windows. These windows are positioned in a high-traffic zone where 10 million passengers pass annually, adjacent to the TSA passenger queuing area. Each Art Window measures 240 inches wide by 81 inches high, with eight 3-foot-wide by 4-foot-high light boxes that can be flexibly configured to create either a single horizontal canvas or four separate portrait-oriented displays.

Lenticular printing creates the illusion of dimensionality and motion through a special process integrating tiny lenses with high-resolution printing. Artists can employ three primary effects: 3D (creating depth illusion), Flip Effect (distinct images that change as viewers move), or Animation (sequences of frames creating motion illusion). The artwork will be displayed on light boxes to enhance vibrancy and visibility, allowing passengers to engage with the work while walking toward security.

Artists currently living or working in Santa Clara County are eligible to apply. Selected artists will receive $10,000 compensation for collaborating with City staff and the City's lenticular printer to adapt their work for lenticular format, preparing print-ready digital files, and granting display rights. The initial display period is projected at 12 to 18 months, after which the artwork will be archived in the Airport's collection and may be included in future displays. Work will also be showcased on the City's website and social media. Artist submissions must include a statement addressing thematic considerations relevant to the airport environment (movement, transition, technology, flight), light box configuration approach, and which lenticular effects will be used. Selection will be curated by a panel of artists, arts professionals, and an airport representative, with criteria including aesthetic integrity and potential to translate into dynamic, large-scale lenticular prints.