Crystal Bridges exhibit opens at XNA

Crystal Bridges is bringing its art to XNA allowing travelers to get a taste of what Northwest Arkansas has to offer.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Northwest Arkansas travelers now have something new to look forward to before takeoff — a curated art exhibit from Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, right inside the Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA).

XNA and Crystal Bridges have teamed up to give travelers a taste of local culture, installing a satellite gallery in the terminal for passengers to enjoy as they wait for their flights.

“It’s a huge deal, I think, as XNA leadership we’re always talking about what we can do to foster a sense of place of Northwest Arkansas in our airport, and this is just a picture-perfect example of that,” Olivia Tyler with XNA said.

Tyler explained partnering with one of the most celebrated museums in the country was the perfect way to showcase the region’s identity.

“Crystal Bridges is an iconic piece of Northwest Arkansas culture and history, as well as it’s a nationally recognized museum. So having something that’s so iconic to Northwest Arkansas be in the Northwest Arkansas National Airport is huge.”

Austen Bailly with Crystal Bridges says the idea fits right in with the museum’s mission and a growing national trend.

“I think the trend nationwide to bring art into airports, which can be stressful, sometimes chaotic and busy places. It also is an expression of our mission to show the ways in which art can contribute to well-being and to wellness,” Bailly said.

Bailly says the satellite exhibit will rotate every six months to give frequent flyers something new to see. She also shared that their team worked hard to make the space feel like a true extension of the museum itself.

“We really wanted to evoke the architecture of Crystal Bridges and Moshe Safdie’s vision for what our facility is like in our ravine. It’s a very incredibly rich and expansive kind of architecture, and this just gives you a flavor of our brand, of our look and feel and of the rich quality of our collection,” Bailly added.

For travelers who call Northwest Arkansas home, Tyler said it’s about bringing a familiar feeling to the start of their journey — and introducing first-time visitors to what makes the region special.

“I think Northwest Arkansans who use this airport, I hope it feels like they’re they have a little bit of a piece of home with them before they go on their journey. I also hope that people who have never been to Northwest Arkansas before, whether they’re coming for business or leisure or what have you, get a little bit of a bite of Crystal Bridges and of what makes Northwest Arkansas so special,” Tyler said. 

And for at least one visitor — mission accomplished.

“It’s so cool. I love going to Crystal Bridges, so it feels like a blessing to be able to see it here,” traveler Addison Wink said.

The Crystal Bridges satellite gallery opened July 10 and will remain in the airport through September 2027.

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