It’s one of the most popular art festivals anywhere in the world and this year, the field of aviation will play a key role in the Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park.

The featured artist Larry Stephenson will bring several of his works to this year’s event, including his whimsical painting, “A Day at the Airport.”

Stephenson's works don't depict a normal day at Houston's airports that buzz with more than 50 million passengers each year; they take a more whimsical approach.

In “A Day at the Airport,” Stephenson stages robot-like businessmen figures at the airport, while cartoon children are piloting the toy spaceships overhead.

This light-hearted piece will grace Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park billboards, posters, programs and T-shirts.

Stephenson will be one of more than 300 artists from around the world attending this year’s festival, which is slated to run from Friday, March 27 through Sunday, March 29.

The award-winning juried art event is the only festival to take place in Memorial Park, the city’s premiere public park enclave.

Just last year it was ranked the #3 art festival in the country by the readers of “American Style Magazine.”

The festival also received two 2008 International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA Gold Pinnacle Awards and was named “Best Festival in Houston” by the 2008 Houston Press “Best of Houston” magazine.

Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park showcases works representing 19 different media formats, including everything from photography to wood creations.

The choice of Stephenson as the featured artist means that guests will be exposed to several art pieces heavily influenced by aviation.

“A Day at the Airport,” “Fly Me to the Moon” and “Tin Men” are just a few of Stephenson’s works which have aviation-related themes.