Gold Coast Airport (GCA) has today unveiled a new artwork installation featuring a series of lifestyle images captured in the late 1970s by one of Australia’s foremost photographers, Ruth Maddison.  

The striking display, delivered in partnership with HOTA, Home of the Arts is featured in the airport’s transition hall, immersing both departing and arriving passengers in the Gold Coast’s arts and cultural scene and setting the tone for what lies beyond the airport doors. 

With a shared ambition to help make the Gold Coast a more accessible city, the installation brings significant pieces from the HOTA Collection beyond the gallery walls and into the airport terminal. 

Pictured L to R: QAL Chief Operating Officer Marion Charlton, Photographer Ruth Maddison and HOTA General Manager David Don.

Queensland Airports Limited’s Chief Operating Officer Marion Charlton said the installation helps to create a strong sense of place and a memorable first and last impression for both arriving and departing passengers. 

“Airports are more than places people travel through, they are gateways to a city and a community. 

“With thousands of people moving through Gold Coast Airport each day, bringing art into the terminal allows us to make art accessible to a broader audience, including many who may not otherwise encounter it.” 

Ms Charlton said the partnership aligns with the airports long-term vision for a more inclusive and diverse airport precinct.  

“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to accessibility and supports the ongoing work we’re doing to create a more inclusive airport environment. 

HOTA Gallery General Manager David Don said the partnership provides a new way to share works from the HOTA Collection with visitors at one of the city’s key gateways.  

“Our airport is the gateway to the Gold Coast, so being able to connect passengers with important Australian artists as soon as they touch down presents an incredible opportunity to not just showcase our city’s arts and cultural credentials but also HOTA’s commitment to making art accessible to all.” 

Artist Ruth Maddison said she was thrilled the partnership between Gold Coast Airport and HOTA, Home of the Arts had enabled her work to be shared with a broad audience of travellers from around the world. 

“These four images are from a series I created on the Gold Coast at Mermaid Beach during the Christmas and New Year period of 1977 and 1978.” 

It’s very rewarding to see these images, which capture a Gold Coast family gathering, so thoughtfully reproduced and displayed here at the airport – a busy hub for Queenslanders, Australians and visitors from around the world.” 

The installation will be on display at the Gold Coast Airport for the next 12 months.  

It has been proudly delivered by the Gold Coast Airport, a major sponsor of Experience Gold Coast, reflecting a shared commitment to showcasing the city’s culture and unique sense of place at one of the region’s key visitor gateways.