Kai Caemmerer - Acting Director and Chief Curator | SFO Museum
Kai Caemmerer - Acting Director and Chief Curator | SFO Museum
Tile has long been a significant decorative element in California, reflecting both the state's artistic spirit and its historical roots. Originally introduced during Spanish occupation, tile continued to be a central feature throughout the early twentieth century, marking a golden era of tilemaking in California. Over four decades, the state produced tiles that combined historical romanticism with modern artistry.
In Arts and Crafts-style bungalows, tiles depicted picturesque scenes and natural motifs in earthy tones. Spanish Colonial Revival-style homes used decorative tiles with bold patterns and bright glazes to enhance terra cotta roofs and floors. Many homes in California still showcase extensive tilework in kitchens and bathrooms, as well as on fireplace surrounds, staircase risers, fountains, and patios.
The SFO Museum is currently hosting an exhibition featuring decorative California tiles from Los Angeles and Bay Area companies. The collection is provided by the Tile Heritage Foundation. "A very special thank you to Tile Heritage Foundation for making this exhibition possible," stated the museum.
The exhibition is located pre-security in the Mayor Edwin M. Lee International Departures Hall at San Francisco International Airport. It will be open to all airport visitors from October 26, 2024, through June 8, 2025, with no admission charge.
Founded by the Airport Commission in 1980, SFO Museum aims to engage a global audience with diverse programming while preserving and sharing commercial aviation history. It is notable for being the only accredited museum within an airport since receiving accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums in 1999.
The museum operates over twenty-five sites across airport terminals, including fourteen galleries showcasing rotating exhibitions of art, history, photography, science, and culture. Among these sites is the San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum which houses more than 160,000 objects related to commercial aviation history.
SFO remains dedicated to providing an exceptional airport experience through seamless access, thoughtful amenities, sustainable design, and inspiring artwork and exhibits.
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