The Tampa Bungalow
Welcome to Phoebe's Room—a little tribute to one of Tampa's most recognizable residents.
If you have flown through Tampa International Airport, you have probably met Phoebe, the enormous pink flamingo that greets travelers in the Main Terminal.
Her official name is HOME, a 21-foot-tall public artwork created by artist Matthew Mazzotta and installed at TPA in 2022. The sculpture shows a flamingo seemingly wading through water, with her head and feet dipping beneath a shimmering ceiling that creates the illusion of rippling water.
Mazzotta designed HOME around a simple but surprisingly meaningful idea: airports are places where people leave home, return home, or travel toward somewhere that may eventually feel like home. The flamingo also represents Florida's remarkable wildlife and the evolving understanding of the bird's connection to the state.
The name Phoebe came later. Tampa International Airport held a worldwide naming contest that received more than 65,000 submissions, with more than 37,000 votes ultimately making “Phoebe” the winning name. She quickly became much more than an airport decoration—she became a meeting place, a photo destination and, for many visitors, their first memorable encounter with Tampa. In 2023, HOME received an international CODA award in the Transportation category and one of the People's Choice awards.
Phoebe is actually part of a much bigger story. Tampa has made public art an important part of the city's identity, beginning with a formal Public Art Program established in 1985. Today, the city's collection contains approximately 700 works, including outdoor sculpture, photography, murals, installations and other forms of public art.
The goal isn't simply to decorate the city—it is to use art to tell Tampa's stories, celebrate its neighborhoods and create places that invite people to stop, look and connect.
You'll see that philosophy throughout Tampa. Along the Riverwalk are sculptures, murals and large-scale glass installations.
At Perry Harvey Sr. Park, monumental sculptures tell the story of Tampa's historic Central Avenue and the city's African American community. Tampa's Story of Tampa is a remarkable 4-by-8-foot mural containing nearly 200 vignettes depicting the people, places and events that helped shape the city. And the airport itself has become an unexpected art destination, with dozens of permanent works by nationally and internationally recognized artists.
Tampa's art scene also extends beyond public installations. The city and the surrounding Tampa Bay region are home to major museums, university galleries, photography exhibitions and one of the country's most celebrated collections of Salvador Dalí's work. Whether you enjoy classical art, contemporary installations, photography, sculpture or simply discovering something unexpected while exploring the city, art is never far away.
A great first stop for visitors interested in both contemporary art and historic collections. The museum sits directly on the Hillsborough River beside Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and features changing exhibitions throughout the year.
Get driving directionsFor photography lovers, FMoPA offers exhibitions devoted entirely to photographic art. It's located in historic Ybor City, making it easy to combine an art visit with exploring one of Tampa's most distinctive neighborhoods.
Get driving directionsIf contemporary art is your thing, this is worth the drive. USF's museum brings nationally and internationally recognized contemporary artists to Tampa and presents changing exhibitions spanning painting, sculpture, photography, electronic media and performance.
Get driving directionsAbout a 30–40 minute drive from central Tampa, The Dalí is one of the region's premier cultural attractions and houses an extraordinary collection of works by Salvador Dalí. Even the building itself is an experience. If you have time for only one major art destination outside Tampa proper, this is the one I'd recommend.
Get driving directionsFor something completely different, explore the monumental public art at Perry Harvey Sr. Park. Four major works tell the story of Tampa's historic African American community and Central Avenue, including sculptures depicting musicians, dancers and the people who shaped this important part of Tampa's history.
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