Chicago-based multidisciplinary artist Yvette Mayorga, in collaboration with Austin’s nonprofit MASS Gallery, has announced an open call for artists living in the Greater Austin area to submit existing works for an exhibition titled *Lost and Found*, scheduled for January 17 through February 14, 2026, at MASS Gallery. The open call is part of the community engagement phase of Mayorga’s major public art project for the new concourse at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA), set to open in 2030. Her project draws on her ancestral ties to the Bracero Program, exploring the emotional resonance of personal objects carried across borders and generations. The exhibition aims to give visibility to local artists while building community around themes of migration, ecology, and the flora and fauna of Texas and Mexico.
This open call matters because it directly involves local Austin artists in a major public art commission tied to a large-scale airport expansion, addressing concerns about the lack of local representation in earlier contract awards. By integrating community dialogue and feedback into the development of her work, Mayorga is modeling a participatory approach to public art that amplifies underrepresented voices and connects personal migration stories to broader ecological and historical contexts. The project also highlights ongoing tensions between municipal development priorities and community engagement in public art funding.