Treasure Map

Ruby Palmer
Treasure Map
Leather, adhesive, flashe
Supported by Southwest Airlines® Repurpose with Purpose Program
2025

Treasure Map’s vivid network of linear pathways echoes the geographical features of a bejeweled landscape. Composed entirely of eco-leather aircraft seat upholstery donated by Southwest Airlines
Repurpose with Purpose Program, this installation represents a unique creative collaboration.
In her work, Hudson Valley artist Ruby Palmer has often playfully challenged perceptions of scale while incorporating bold colors and patterns. Her process of first building and then subtracting with a
variety of materials like paper, wood, canvas, and now leather, yields intricate structures and silhouettes.

Southwest Airlines has served Albany International Airport since 2000. In 2014, Southwest launched its
Repurpose with Purpose Program, a global sustainability initiative that creates partnerships with social impact organizations to upcycle and transform aircraft seat leather removed during ongoing aircraft renovations and the aircraft retirement process. Community partners across the globe have upcycled more than one million pounds of Southwest aircraft seat leather through this program, fostering sustainable solutions with a transformative community impact, including employment opportunities and on-the-job skills training.

About Ruby Palmer
Ruby Palmer was born in Boston in 1969 and spent her childhood in rural Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. She received her BA in Painting and Drawing from Hampshire College in 1992. In 2000 she received her MFA from the School of Visual Arts.
For more about Ruby, visit her on Instagram or her webpage:

About Southwest Airlines Repurpose with Purpose Program
Founded in 2014, this award-winning global environmental sustainability initiative upcycles aircraft seat leather, helping keep the seat leather out of landfills. Treasure Map is the first sculpture supported by this Program, and Albany International Airport is thrilled to be the pilot site and partner for this project.
For more about the Repurpose with Purpose Program, visit their webpage: