Artist Vickie Wilson channels her roots, reinvents airport terrazzo in this year’s NTMA Job of the Year.
The 2025 NTMA Job of the Year is a vivid tribute to Florida’s natural beauty, crafted in epoxy terrazzo by artist Vickie Wilson and the David Allen Company as part of a 650,000-square-foot installation in Orlando International Airport’s new terminal. Installed in the international arrivals area, The Springs layers shades of blue, some 600 marble fish, and sculpted turtles and bass to conjure the crystalline depths of a natural spring.
“I grew up in Florida and spent much time in nature,” Wilson said. “I remember the water in the natural springs was crystal clear, there were tons of fish, and the aquatic grass looked like it was dancing far below.”
That deep connection to place—combined with Wilson’s artistic and technical skill—shaped an installation that is both technically complex and emotionally resonant. The process involved five design iterations, silicone molds, and waterjet-cut elements.
Early in her terrazzo career, Wilson was struck and inspired by the 1998 NTMA Job of the Year at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center, where Alexis Smith’s terrazzo murals recreated historic photos of Buckeye athletes. “Even though strips were used to separate the colors, the fine gradations looked blended,” Wilson recalled. “I could envision even more painterly installations.”
Wilson’s skills evolved at the David Allen Company, based in Raleigh. Founded in 1920, the company joined NTMA in 1944. Chairman Robert Roberson began his career there in 1957 and bought the firm in 1967. His son, David, is now CEO, and his grandson, Joshua, serves as senior project manager and president of the NTMA board.
Wilson credits Roberson with encouraging her experimentation. Her terrazzo sampler at the company’s headquarters earned an NTMA Special Art Award in 2008. Under her studio name, TerrazzArt, she now creates custom artwork, CAD drawings, and waterjet programming.
Her personal highlight on her favorite project to date is the largemouth bass. To get the proper perspective, a local Cabela’s manager climbed a lift to photograph a bass taxidermy from above.
For the artist, the reward is more than the result—it’s in the impact. “The idea that my art might bring joy to kids from other countries is very moving to me,” she said.
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