The Art of Bantam Travelware

This body of work bridges nostalgia with the fine arts through a series of paintings displayed alongside vintage Bantam luggage suitcases. Manufactured in Japan during the 1960s and 1970s by Bantam Travelware, these suitcases showcase bold floral patterns that reflect the vibrant color palettes and design trends of the era. The colorful luggage brings to mind the former Weir Cook Indianapolis International Airport’s colorful striped carpet, and a sense of mid-century optimism and aesthetic playfulness.
This series of paintings highlights the contrast between the printed patterns on the luggage and the thick, textured surface of oil paint, emphasizing the material differences between painting and print-based media. By pairing paintings with these suitcases, the work invites viewers to reflect on personal memories while also imagining a future filled with more color, creativity, and possibility.

• Artist: Holly Sims
• Installation: March 2025- July 2025
• Location: Concourse A

About the Artist: Holly Sims is a Greencastle, Indiana native who received her
MFA in Painting and Drawing from the New York Studio School (2013). She is a muralist and painter who currently lives and works in central Indiana. Her large public work primarily focuses on elements of realism and nature, incorporating imagery that is meaningful to the communities
and audiences it serves.
In addition to her public art, she maintains a home studio practice where she explores the fluid rhythm of color through thick oil paint. She draws inspiration from vintage still life objects and cityscapes, painting en plein air with oil paint and watercolor. With a strong focus on color and texture, her work emphasizes bold brushwork and the physicality of thick oil paint, creating expressive and dynamic compositions.

Find Holly on social media @Hollysimspainting to learn more about her art work