A Sleeping Statue Found In Orlando International Airport

American artist Duane Hanson died in 1996, but was renowned for his creations of hyper realistic statues depicting everyday people. Hanson would make casts of real people in polyester resins with fiberglass, and then spend endless hours painting the figures with extreme detail. Orlando International Airport’s the Traveler is one of two depictions of a sleeping traveler by the artist, who created a similar statue two years later.

The second, however, is a little less airport-appropriate attire, sporting nothing underneath his completely undone shirt. The statues were made of bronze polychromed in oil, found clothing, hair, a duffel bag, a sleeping bag, wooden sticks, and paper tickets.

All you need to do to see this 'Traveler' is book a ticket. The statue can be found in the Terminal A concourse between the East and West security points. Originally installed near a bar in the Main Terminal with no covering, “The Traveler” required several refurbishments over the years by Hanson and his stylist, due to the interactions of passengers from around the world, including those who threw coins at him for good luck. While the interaction was appreciated, “The Traveler” was eventually encased in acrylic in its current location, where he continues to delight and intrigue passengers.