Ella Freire

Ella Freire has long been fascinated by the visual language of tickets and luggage labels — small, functional objects elevated by bold typography, distinctive shapes and beautifully considered design.

Ella Freire’s Pan Am luggage tag artworks celebrate one of the most iconic visual identities in aviation history.  Drawing on the original tags from the 1960s and 1970s, Ella reinterprets their bold typography, distinctive shapes and beautifully considered colour combinations as striking, large-scale screenprints. Enlarged and removed from their original function, the tags become powerful graphic Pop Art pieces.

The series reflects the glamour, optimism and innovation associated with Pan Am and the golden age of travel. Each destination carries its own sense of place, while the instantly recognisable design language gives the collection a strong visual identity. Individually screen-printed, hand cut and float-mounted to emphasise their form, the works retain the character of the original tags while transforming them into striking artworks.

Air Contemporary exclusively represents Ella Freire in the UK. Her Pan Am luggage tag artworks are officially licensed by Pan American Airways LLC.