HIGHFILL, Ark — Work has officially begun on a new Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art satellite gallery, set to open inside the Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) in Highfill later this year.

According to a news release from Crystal Bridges, the gallery will be positioned just past the security checkpoint near the B gates. It will feature a rotating selection of pieces from the museum’s permanent collection, offering travelers a unique opportunity to engage with art while passing through the airport.

Renderings released by Hight Jackson, the architectural firm behind the project, show a sleek, modern design intended to complement the airport’s ongoing terminal modernization efforts. The addition of the gallery marks a notable expansion for Crystal Bridges, which has become a major cultural and tourist destination in Bentonville since its opening in 2011.

“We are excited to collaborate with Crystal Bridges to incorporate an iconic piece of Northwest Arkansas’ cultural identity into XNA,” said XNA CEO Aaron Burkes in a news release. “This partnership helps create a true sense of place for our passengers and will showcase a premier regional amenity to those who have never been to Northwest Arkansas.”

The partnership between XNA and Crystal Bridges is designed to enhance the passenger experience by infusing art and culture directly into the travel environment. The installation is part of a broader trend among airports nationwide to create more engaging, community-rooted spaces within their terminals.

The new airport gallery will be the museum’s first formal presence outside its Bentonville campus, allowing the institution to reach a wider audience — including national and international travelers who might not otherwise have the chance to visit Crystal Bridges.

Museum officials say the gallery is on track to open this summer, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony planned to mark the occasion. Once open, the space will serve as both an art exhibition and a cultural ambassador for the region, reflecting the museum’s mission of celebrating American art and fostering access for diverse audiences.

This development comes as XNA continues major upgrades to its terminal, aiming to accommodate growing passenger numbers and improve amenities across the airport.

Originally reported by Kyler Swaim in KNWA Fox News.