21-Foot-Tall Pink Flamingo Makes Its 'Home' At Tampa Airport

TAMPA, FL — The final pieces of the giant flamingo-shaped puzzle are coming together.

The custom ceiling tiles arrived for the 21-foot-tall pink flamingo sculpture that will become the centerpiece for Tampa International Airport arrived last month. And, after weeks of prep work to ensure everything is in place underneath, the tiles are now being installed, completing “Home” by artist Matthew Mazzotta.

The first puzzle pieces of the giant pink flamingo arrived at Tampa International Airport in April, but its journey from concept to construction has been two years in the making

After the artist and project coordinators meticulously aimed the projectors to ensure the lighting was just right, they are now putting up the reflective tiles, which will give the illusion of being beneath the water’s surface.

Following closely after that will be the addition of small metal bumpers on the floor around the bird, giving the illusion of shadows from the rippling water above while doubling as a tactile sign to the visually impaired of the flamingo’s location, making the huge statue compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Once completed, the yellow barricades will come down and passengers at the airport will be able to touch and interact with the flamingo, sometime late this summer.

As the long-awaited addition nears the finish line, visitors are encouraged to take photos with “Home” and share them using the hashtag #MeetMeAtTheFlamingo. The public art piece has already created buzz around the world and is expected to be a popular landmark for visitors landing in Tampa.