Long layovers and delayed flights, even at the world’s busiest airports, can lead to some exciting discoveries. In nearly every corner — above escalators, in baggage claim, in parking garages and along pedestrian walkways — airports have revamped dull and boring spaces to include extravagant displays of compelling public art.

Years ago, art at airports was limited to simple displays that highlighted the state or city or the history of aviation. Today’s airport art has evolved to include multimillion-dollar projects showcasing the latest contemporary pieces by a roster of renowned artists from around the world.

According to Greg Mamary, producer of special projects at the American Association of Airport Executives, “More airports became interested in art programs after 9/11. Some airports started them from scratch or revamped existing programs to give the passenger a more pleasurable experience.”

The goal quite simply is to make the passenger feel more comfortable, while also enhancing the building’s architecture. “Today, traveling can be stressful, and the art program can be a soothing experience,” said David Vogt, art program manager at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. “With art, we are enhancing the travelers’ experience and reaching travelers with museum-quality art who may never get the chance to seek that out on their own. We create a spark and allow the traveler to slow and appreciate the experience rather than getting from point A to point B as quickly as possible.”

The oldest airport art program in the country — and the only program accredited by the American Association of Museums — is at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Visitors will find 65 pieces of permanent art and 30 temporary and rotating exhibits throughout the year scattered throughout the terminals and grounds. SFO also boasts the San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library, with 6,000 volumes on aviation history, and the Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum, featuring exhibitions on the history of commercial aviation in the Pacific Rim. SFO’s viewable collection is so extensive that the airport provides pamphlets to guide travelers through rotating exhibits and permanent displays.

At Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL), travelers can view more than 250 works of art, including sculptures, murals and large- and small-scale pieces situated throughout the terminals, parking structures, airport grounds and pedestrian walkways. Some works, such as Paper Runway, scheduled to open mid-January 2009, are rotating exhibitions. Others are permanent installations, such as the 20-piece exhibit of large stone sculptures from Zimbabwe in the pedestrian corridor between concourses T and A.

Hartsfield-Jackson frequently implements new exhibits and public art pieces to enhance the airport experience. With more than 80 million passengers passing through last year alone, the airport plans to spend $13 million on new exhibits over the next four years. New projects sure to create a buzz include A Walk Through Atlanta History, a combination of art and history with video displays and artifacts, and Flight Paths by Steve Waldeck, a $4.3 million multisensory project designed to replicate a walk through a Georgia forest — complete with special-effects lighting and a forest canopy — in the pedestrian corridor between concourses A and B.

At Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), officials feel it’s imperative to incorporate a taste of Chicago — whether it’s with fashion, music or culture — into small galleries dispersed throughout the terminals, including the pedestrian walkways and rotunda space. “Over 50 percent of traffic at O’Hare connects to another flight, so passengers don’t have time to go into the city to look at the art downtown. Art at the airport gives them a chance to see a little bit of the city,” said Jill McGee, deputy commissioner of marketing and communications for the Chicago Department of Aviation.

Geometric sculptures greet passengers arriving at O’Hare’s Terminal 5; the orange-and-blue Beacons by local artist Steven Hyman is painted on silk panels and lit from within. Other permanent highlights include Millennium Chandeliers, 21 colorful resin chandeliers linking terminals 1 and 2, created by After School Matters under the guidance of the Chihuly Studio; Jet Trails, an impressive 50-foot panoramic sculpture of handblown glass in hues of blue, green and violet created by Guy Kemper; and nearly 400 feet of murals that adorn the walkways connecting the terminals with the parking garage and the CTA Blue Line station.

Most airport curators agree that public art is different from art found in a museum. “I see art at airports as better than museum-quality art,” said Matt Chasansky, public art administrator at Denver International Airport (DEN). “Public art is on a grander scale and has to be approachable, accessible to everyone. The challenge is having to address the entire public, while museums cater to a certain type of goer.”

Travelers passing through Denver can view 30 works of public art inside and outside the terminal, some with a strong emphasis on the heritage of Colorado. “We want people to get an impression of Colorado’s culture,” said Chasansky. “Even the short experience should have some real impact, something the traveler remembers.” One of the most prominent pieces is Mustang by Luis Jimenez, a 32-foot bright blue rearing mustang situated on a grassy knoll outside the Jeppesen Terminal. Over the next 10 years, Denver Airport plans to commission more than one multimillion-dollar art exhibit, create a dedicated gallery space and work on new projects with local art organizations.

At Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), passengers can unwind on 16 wooden rocking chairs vibrantly decorated by local artists in themes unique to the region. They can also view outdoor and indoor sculptures, permanent pieces reflecting the history of New England and a 35,000-square-foot terrazzo floor adorned with aquatic references by local artist Jane Goldman. The Airport 9/11 Memorial, a large glass sculpture on a 2.5-acre site outside the terminal, honors the passengers and crews of American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175.

Financing for airport art comes from a variety of sources, including company sponsorships, donations, airport-generated funds and a “percent for art ordinance” which at most airports earmarks a certain percentage of renovation funds for public art. A panel that represents the community, airport officials, staff members, airline executives, travelers and stakeholders chooses most of the art. At some airports, such as SFO, an art team selects temporary exhibits, with some input from artists and collectors.

There are advantages to viewing art at airports: The art is available 24/7, it’s free of charge, and travelers get a sense of the city’s culture and heritage without stepping foot in the actual city itself. “Even if you capture 10 percent of the people passing through the terminal, you are reaching a huge audience,” said Vogt, ATL’s art manager.

Miami International Airport (MIA) features approximately 95 pieces of art, with the primary focus of bringing the South Florida environment to the airport. MIA’s art program has about $5 million set aside for upcoming and in-progress permanent art projects and an annual budget of $100,000 for rotating exhibits. This past fall the airport re-introduced the Central Terminal Gallery, featuring the rotating exhibition All We Need Is Love, and added 4,000 square feet of gallery space before the security checkpoint in South Terminal to showcase Siesta, a collection of 40 colorful ceremonial hammocks handmade by women of the Wayuu tribe in northern Colombia. In Spring 2009, MIA will unveil two iconic murals by Brazilian artist Carybé — once on display at New York JF K — as part of its permanent collection.

At London Heathrow Airport (LHR), British Airways worked with Artwise curators to commission permanent pieces for its new Terminal 5. All the Time in the World by Troika is a 72-foot-long digital clock displaying the time in various locations around the world — capital cities; the world’s highest mountains; renowned museums; natural wonders, such as the Grand Canyon; and manmade wonders, such as the Taj Mahal. Troika’s shimmering 16-foot Cloud hovers above escalators and features 5,000 flip dots (as seen on railway information boards) that change from black to silver, creating a mesmerizing wave.

Terminal 3 at Singapore’s Changi Airport (SIN) features a slew of modern art pieces that blend harmoniously with the architectural space. Displays include a steel and bronze statue by artist Han Mei Lin; marble sculptures in the departure hall; 50 sculptured sandstone panels that say “welcome” in 16 different languages; and Daisy, a fiberglass propeller that celebrates Singapore’s significance in international air and sea travel.

Colorful light installations and large-scale sculptures are prevalent both inside and outside of Munich Airport (MUC), even within dining areas. Most famous is Lichtweg by American artist Keith Sonnier, a 3,000-foot-long path of neon light along the moving walkways. A central area is home to rotating exhibits that feature anything from modern photography to sculpture.

What imaginative installations can travelers expect to encounter in the future? Greg Mamary of the American Association of Airport Executives put it this way: “Airport art programs are only going to get bigger, with more airports incorporating groundbreaking high technology with their art.” Indeed, as airports expand and renovate their facilities, passengers can look forward to making more connections with the art scene, even if they are just passing through.