Boise artist chosen to create murals for new airport structure

Fifty-seven creators submitted works. That number was whittled down to three. One was chosen to fly ahead with his vision.

Planning for the centennial celebration of the Boise Airport, a statewide request for qualifications (RFQ) was issued for a mural to adorn portions of the transportation hub’s new rental car facility that celebrates Idaho’s history and potential future. Boise artist Chad Otis was chosen.

Otis is a best-selling author and illustrator of seven children’s books, and has a background in design.

A selection committee made up of people from the Boise Airport Commission and staff, Arts and History Commission, the Idaho artist community, the Consolidated Rental Car Facility (ConRAC) operator and the facility’s construction company deliberated on the entries. The submissions were ranked “based on adaptability and appropriateness for public display, color palette, inclusion of historical elements, and the depiction of the future of air transportation.”

Each of the three finalists received a $500 stipend to develop their concepts, with Otis receiving unanimous votes from the committee for his vision, which includes shades blue, gold and green, and depicts elements of the state’s past and what he imagines the future of air travel to look like.

That vision matches the directive given during the RFQ process, which stated, “While acknowledging the past years of history, what could the future of air transportation in Boise look like? How would you represent that in your artwork?”

Otis stated that the mural he envisions will “celebrate our spirit of exploration and discovery ― from Sacajawea guiding Lewis and Clark to Idaho, to the 100th anniversary of the Boise Airport and its future as a hub of exploration and air travel.”

He added, “The mural includes historical elements that honor the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, the Boise Depot, the Capitol Building, President Lincoln who signed the act creating the Idaho Territory in 1862, along with a bygone Boise Airport with its significant role as a hub for U.S. AIR MAIL biplanes.”

The renderings submitted by Otis are subject to change. He will receive a $30,000 budget to create the murals, which will be printed on vinyl applications and applied on the east façade and the main terminal connector of the ConRAC facility. The mural will be displayed from three to five years, and Otis will work with a team of designers to complete the work, which will be dedicated on April 6, 2026, the airport’s 100th anniversary.

“The murals designed by Chad Otis beautifully weave together the story of our airport with the spirit of our city to create a piece that feels both nostalgic and forward-looking,” said Rebecca Hupp, director of the Boise Airport. “It’s an honor to showcase art that reflects our community and how far we’ve come.”