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Beer, Daleks and masks: Personal collections on display at Philly airport

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As PHL's director of guest experience and chief curator, Leah Douglas been exposing travelers to art exhibitions in hallways and concourses for more than 20 years.

Masks from Adam Wallacavage, are among the eclectic selection of objects from Philly airport staff members, in “Private Collections: Personal Obsessions,” on display in PHL’s Terminal D.
Masks from Adam Wallacavage, are among the eclectic selection of objects from Philly airport staff members, in “Private Collections: Personal Obsessions,” on display in PHL’s Terminal D.Read moreTOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer

Leah Douglas is always on the lookout for local artists whose work might get passengers catching a flight to pause for a moment. As Philadelphia International Airport’s director of guest experience and chief curator, she’s been exposing air travelers to temporary art exhibitions in hallways and concourses for more than 20 years. For her latest exhibition, “Private Collections: Personal Obsessions,” she turned to fellow airport staff members to feature an eclectic selection of their own objects: among them superhero stuff, Dr. Who Daleks, beer bottles, haircare tins and masks. The display, at the very end of Terminal D, like most of the airport art, can only be seen by ticketed passengers. “As diverse as the collections are, most have been gathered primarily as a hobby ... or handed down from one family member to another,” said Douglas. “While the activity of collecting is a universal experience, each collection is personal and unique as each object often represents a specific remembrance or story.” » READ MORE: From 2010, PHL's rotating art displays

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