United Airlines Announces Winners of ‘First-of-Its-Kind’ Art Contest
by Daine Taylor
The winners of United Airlines' first ever Her Art Here contest will get to paint their designs on an actual United aircraft. Photo: United Airlines
Last week, United Airlines revealed the two winning designs for “Her Art Here,” a first-of-its-kind art contest for the airline designed to find and uplift underrepresented female artists. The victors will have the opportunity to have their work painted on a canvas unlike any other: A United Airlines aircraft.
Tsungwei Moo of San Francisco and Corinne Antonelli of New Jersey were selected as the winners through a combination of official judging and public voting.
Moo’s design depicted iconic landmarks as well as the palm trees and ocean that are synonymous with the state of California. Antonelli’s design featured a globe signaling United’s worldwide connectivity; and time-honored imagery from her location, including a classic New Jersey mill, the New York City skyline, and the Statue of Liberty.
“I believe creating and appreciating art should not be defined by gender and cultural differences. As an emerging immigrant female artist, winning ‘Her Art Here’ gives me a great platform to let the world see my art,” said Moo. “Fourteen years ago, I arrived in the United States on a United Airlines flight to follow my dreams and to be an artist, so it is truly surreal to have won this contest.”
The winners, along with the top finalists, will have the opportunity for their artwork to be displayed inside United terminals throughout the remainder of 2019, with their works available for purchase. Winners and finalists all received 100,000 MileagePlus award miles, and the two regional winners will be awarded a $10,000 cash prize.
“Winning the ‘Her Art Here’ contest means the world to me,” said Antonelli. “When I was a young girl, I had many artists I looked up to and felt inspired by, and now I have the opportunity to become a role model for other young girls looking to pursue a career in the arts. It feels amazing being selected as the winner from the New York and New Jersey region – I’ve lived in New Jersey my entire life and have fallen in love with the state.”
The two winners will be mentored by renowned artists prior to one aircraft per region being painted this fall.
