---
title: Giant Hummingbirds Land at Richmond International Airport
description: The CODAawards Top 100 highlights remarkable projects from around the world, celebrating local creativity and the global impact of public art.
---

[CODAzine](https://knowledge.codaworx.com/codazine)

# [Giant Hummingbirds Land at Richmond International Airport](https://knowledge.codaworx.com/codazine/giant-hummingbirds-land-at-richmond-international-airport)

 Written by [CODAzine](https://knowledge.codaworx.com/codazine/author/codazine) | Aug 19, 2026, 4:25:10 PM

***Travel Companions*** is a 24-foot public art sculpture by conceptual artist Matthew Mazzotta, officially unveiled in August 2026 at **Richmond International Airport (RIC)** in Virginia. Located in the newly renovated Center Core Plaza between the North and South Daily Parking Garages, the installation serves as the airport's very first piece of public art.

Commissioned for $400,000 in early 2025, the sculpture features a massive, flowering **dogwood tree** (the state flower of Virginia) encircled by **three giant, brightly colored hummingbirds**. The birds are built from commercial-grade structural steel and coated in vibrant automotive paint designed to endure the elements for decades. The installation also includes custom leaf-shaped public benches surrounding the base. Mazzotta designed the piece to draw a parallel between the ecology of Virginia and the purpose of the airport. Just as a dogwood tree naturally draws in hummingbirds, an airport brings together people from all walks of life. The diverse, vivid colors of the winged travelers symbolize Richmond's rich, multicultural community sharing a single space.

Following a public vote hosted by the airport on social media, the three hummingbirds were given locally inspired names: 

- **Henry**: Named after Patrick Henry, famous for his "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" speech delivered in Richmond.
- **Hollywood**: Named after the historic Hollywood Cemetery overlooking the James River.
- **Hummie Mae**: A playful nod to "Hammie Mae," a famous pygmy hippopotamus born at the nearby Metro Richmond Zoo.

[Click here to see Matthew Mazzotta's other work on CODAworx.](https://www.codaworx.com/profile/matthew-mazzotta)

[View full post](https://knowledge.codaworx.com/codazine/giant-hummingbirds-land-at-richmond-international-airport)

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