b'72 FLL ARTSCAPESAirside Artistry Its said that a true artist can turn anything into something extraordinary. Peter Agardy proves that point with this linear mural at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). The fourth-generation Floridianpanels and applying an acrylic metal primer. They also visited transformed an ordinary metal blast fence on the west end ofthe artist on-site while he painted and helped with anything he the North Runway into a work of art that showcases the areasneeded, adds Roldan. bountiful wildlife and patriotism.Agardy used an airless sprayer for blending the background To be fair though, Agardy had help. Members of FLLsand applying the main base colors for individual elements. Fine maintenance crew came up with the idea of painting a patrioticdetails were added with brushwork and aerosol paint. To helpmural and even presented a sketch to Christina Roldan, publichis outdoor artwork last, the artist applied two layers of acrylic art project manager for the Broward County Aviation Department.clear coat to the entire 445-foot-long piece. The center section, Roldan, in turn, secured public art funding for the project andwhich receives the most direct jet blast, has a third layer for initiated the standard process to solicit proposals from artistsadded protection. throughout the state. Imagery on the mural includes an iconic Florida sailfish, a small At first, the maintenance team was disappointed, thinking weschool of flying fish skipping on water, an egret in flight, the Fort were going to stifle their idea, she recalls. They were planningLauderdale skyline, an American flag and a bald eagle.on painting the fence themselves. But I assured them that if weThis amazing artwork will provide travelers with a unique selected a professional artist competitively, the final productFLL welcome, said Chief Executive Officer/Director of Aviation would be even better.Mark Gale when the mural was unveiled in 2019. Believed to The crews supervisor served on the panel that ultimatelybe the first of its kind on an airport runway, In Flight is a beautiful selected Agardy to paint the mural, and maintenance workersrepresentation of Floridas nature connected with modern dayhad hands-on involvement by sandblasting the corrugated fenceair travel.September 2025AirportImprovement.com'