Where lost luggage goes to die. Sacramento International's "Samson" uses real suitcases!

Where lost luggage goes to die. Sacramento International's "Samson" uses real suitcases!

Remember when airports became shopping malls? Sure, I love browsing for iPhones and sweaters or a burger and a beer as much as the next guy, but it’s just so lowbrow. Finally, the latest phase in airports is upon us: the art gallery. Here are just a few examples of airport art springing up in a concourse near you.

For the record, I like beer with my art, too.

Seattle, as usual, was ahead of the trend as Sea-Tac Airport went artsy in the 60s. Trimpin's "On: Matter, Monkeys and the King" is a moving piece. Literally and figuratively.

Seattle, as usual, was ahead of the trend as Sea-Tac Airport went artsy in the 60s. Artist Trimpin's "On: Matter, Monkeys and the King" is a moving piece. Literally and figuratively.

Philadelphia Airport has both a permanent collection as well as a rotating exhibit. Among the mainstays is "Impulse" by Ralph Helmick and Stuart Schechter which consists of several thousand small birds that together transform into different shapes.

Philadelphia Airport has both a permanent collection as well as a rotating exhibit. Among the mainstays is "Impulse" by Ralph Helmick and Stuart Schechter which consists of several thousand small birds that together transform into different shapes.

Austin-Bergstrom International features the paintings of Judy Jensen. Her luggage on glass series is, in her words, "like memories in the mind of the traveler."

Austin-Bergstrom International features the paintings of Judy Jensen. Her luggage on glass series is, in her words, "like memories in the mind of the traveler."

Tucson features the famous flying carpets of the Southwest. Well, maybe not famous, but they're colorful. And they fly!

Tucson features the famous flying carpets of the Southwest. Well, maybe not famous, but they're colorful. And they fly!

Craig Nutt's "Corncorde" in Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport drips butter twice daily. Not really, that's just a corny joke.

Craig Nutt's "Corncorde" in Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport drips butter twice daily. Not really, that's just a corny joke.

Indianapolis features Ron Baron's art which is both fun and user-friendly. (Suit)case in point, it's art you can sit on!

Indianapolis features Ron Baron's art which is both fun and user-friendly. (Suit)case in point, it's art you can sit on!

Albany International is home to Joy Taylor's "Dream of Flight" which is made from 240 big foil leaves and they're falling! Not really.

Albany International is home to Joy Taylor's "Dream of Flight" which is made from 240 big foil leaves and they're falling - very, very, very slowly.

See, isn’t a little culture good for the layover soul? Also, beer.

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Photos featuring the airports of Atlanta, Austin, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Sacramento and Seattle were first featured at MSN Travel and are part of a larger slide show covering airport art.

Tucson photo courtesy of Seen Not Heard: http://www.flickr.com/photos/20186423@N00/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

JFK photo courtesy of DogFromSPACE: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sterlingely/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Albany photo courtesy of Albany International Airport via Stuck at the Airport.