TWA Flight Center, JFK Airport NYC
Eero Saarinen’s TWA Flight Center at John F. Kennedy International Airport is a masterpiece of mid-century design: both visually expressive and highly functional. The terminal remained in service until 2001 and has since been thoughtfully transformed into a hotel. During the early months of the pandemic, I stayed there for two days while awaiting a flight to Los Angeles. With the building nearly deserted, I had a rare opportunity to experience and photograph its architecture without the usual crowds or noise. Its dynamic curves and distinctive period details evoke an era when air travel was defined by elegance and occasion. In the evening, soft light accentuated the interior forms, deepened the shadows within recessed spaces and set the vivid TWA red against the grey concrete. Anticipating the dramatic light and shadow of sunrise, I began photographing before dawn and continued for three hours, studying the building’s structural complexity, the long shadows cast by Saarinen’s chairs and tables, and the refined handrails lining the main staircase.
This series has been exhibited in numerous galleries and received a Silver Medal in the 2021 PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris competition.
Fine Art Prints