ILLUMINATE SF

WIND PORTAL

Ned Kahn (2003)

Permanent (Civic Art Collection)

SFO: Between BART Station and AirTrain (view map)

The 200,000 mirrored stainless steel disks of Wind Portal encircle a 55′-diameter by 12′-deep hole in the main level of the station, through which escalators and stairs run. The myriad of tiny mirrors responds to air currents generated by passing trains – the wind flowing through the BART Station at the San Francisco Airport – and colors reflected from people’s clothing as they pass through the portal, creating an ever-changing mosaic of light, sculpted by the wind.

Best Viewing: The BART station is in SFO's International Terminal, a short walk from United Airlines Terminal 3 (Domestic Terminals 1, 2 & 3 are minutes away on AirTrain).

Visit Ned Kahn’s other installation featured in Illuminate SF: Firefly at 525 Golden Gate Avenue at Polk Street.

Presenting Sponsor


5M is a new, vibrant mixed-use destination in the heart of San Francisco located at the intersection of 5th and Mission streets. Developed by Brookfield Properties, named “Developer of the Year” by the San Francisco Business Times in 2021, the four-acre parcel was previously home to parking lots and underutilized buildings. Now, it has been transformed into a lively community for locals and visitors alike.