Holly Sims: Finding Her Muse in Muralism

Holly Sims, a Greencastle native and muralist, brings her artistic storytelling to communities across Indiana. She graduated from New York Studio School in 2013 with a Master of Fine Arts in painting and drawing. She maintains a home studio that allows her to experiment with her medium of choice, which is oil painting. 

Sims was recently commissioned through the Indy Arts Council for a mural project at the Indianapolis International Airport. Selected through an open call for artists, she created an installation in Concourse A that integrates oil paintings with vintage Bantam Travelware suitcases. The luggage, originally manufactured in Japan in the 1960s and ’70s, showcases colorful floral designs that capture the aesthetic of mid-century travel.

The design intends to highlight the contrast between the printed patterns on the luggage and the thick, textured surface that the oil paint creates. The objective is to emphasize the difference between painting and print-based media. The painting in conjunction with the suitcases invites the viewers to reminisce on their personal memories, whilst imagining a bright future full of color and creativity. 

In addition to her public and studio work, Sims served recently as an assistant professor of visual communication at Anderson University, where she integrated her artistic practice into the classroom. “It’s where my passion and practice come together,” she said.

Sims encourages students to find their own visual voice—even in a digital age filled with fast-moving trends. She points them toward professional opportunities such as First Fridays, juried student shows, and listings through indyarts.org.

Looking ahead, Sims is collaborating on a new interactive art installation for the Anderson Museum of Art. Set to launch in late July, the piece is designed to be accessible for children of all abilities. She is working alongside artists Jeffery Jackson and Kameron Robinson to create a vibrant, inclusive experience for young visitors as part of the museum’s new children’s exhibit.

Makenzie Evilsizer is a senior from Carmel, Indiana, majoring in social media management for public relations and minoring in Spanish. Evilsizer is an associate with Fifth Street Communications®, a student-run public relations agency at Anderson University.