Art supporters are up in arms over a decision by officials at Indianapolis International Airport to remove a three-story sculptural painting in order to make room for a video screen that will display advertisements.

The glass-and-canvas piece titled “Chrysalis” by James Wille Faust will be removed by the end of the month. The artwork has enjoyed a prominent location above the escalators in the main passenger terminal since it opened in 2008.

Instead of “Chrysalis”, passengers arriving on Indianapolis flights will soon be greeted by a large screen that will display advertisements as well as digital works of art, according to an airport spokesman.

Upon opening the terminal in 2008, airport officials highly touted its $4 million public art collection commissioned from 17 separate artists.

Source: Chicago Tribune