SHE WON! Phoebe nabs major international art award and People’s Choice honors

Just days after celebrating her first birthday, Tampa International Airport’s 21-foot-tall, giant pink flamingo – formally titled “HOME” by artist Matthew Mazzotta and affectionately nicknamed Phoebe – has officially been named a winner in the prestigious CODAWorx Awards. A distinguished panel of 18 jurors, comprising some of the most influential names in the art and design industry, reviewed and scored the entries, naming Phoebe winner in the Transportation category.  The public was also given the opportunity to weigh in, and Phoebe picked up one of two “People’s Choice Awards” with more than 3,000 votes!

Said one of the judges, Tomasz Urbanowics of ArchiGlass: “The wonderfully witty idea of a scaled-up scene makes one smile and want to interact by taking a selfie at the first place, stimulating afterwards deeper reflection. An excellent example of public art project, combining joy, deep thought and site-specific approach.”

This year’s submissions came from every corner of the globe, celebrating innovation and artistic excellence. The CODAawards received a record-breaking 411 entries from 24 different countries (and the Korean Demilitarized Zone). Take a look at the full list of amazing winners here.

The big news comes on the heels of Phoebe’s first birthday, which was celebrated on August 25, the one-year anniversary of the official completion of “HOME” on Level 3 of TPA’s Main Terminal. The Airport welcomed live flamingos from Busch Gardens and flamenco dancers from the Columbia Restaurant to help celebrate the special day, along with a massive cake enjoyed by travelers passing through TPA. Check out the video for highlights of all the festivities.