Mail art artists inc

A fascinating topic! Mail art, also known as correspondence art, is a form of art that involves sending and receiving handmade or unique postal items, such as letters, postcards, and packages, between artists and collectors. Here are some notable mail art artists and organizations:

Individual Mail Art Artists:

  1. Ray Johnson (1927-1995): Known as the "father of mail art," Johnson was an American artist who pioneered the movement in the 1950s and 1960s.
  2. Anna Banana (1940-2019): A Swiss-American artist, Banana was a prominent figure in the mail art movement and founder of the magazine "The Artist's Magazine."
  3. John Held Jr. (1947-2012): An American artist, Held was a prolific mail artist who created thousands of artworks and collaborated with other artists worldwide.
  4. Guglielmo Achille Cavellini (1920-2009): An Italian artist, Cavellini was a pioneer of mail art and created over 10,000 artworks, many of which were sent to other artists and collectors.

Mail Art Organizations:

  1. The Mail Art Network (MAN): Founded in the 1970s, MAN is a global network of mail artists who exchange artworks and collaborate on projects.
  2. The International Union of Mail Artists (IUMA): Established in the 1980s, IUMA is a non-profit organization that promotes mail art and provides a platform for artists to connect and share their work.
  3. The Post-Historic Movement: A loose network of artists who reject traditional notions of art and instead focus on the process of creating and sharing artworks through the mail.
  4. The Fluxus Network: A global network of artists who emerged in the 1960s, Fluxus is known for its experimental and avant-garde approach to art, which often involves mail art and correspondence.

Notable Mail Art Projects:

  1. The "Chain Letter" project: Started by Ray Johnson in the 1950s, this project involved sending a letter to a friend, who would then add their own artwork and send it to another friend, and so on.
  2. The "Mail Art Museum" project: Founded by Anna Banana in the 1970s, this project aimed to create a virtual museum of mail art, featuring artworks sent by artists from around the world.
  3. The "Post-Card Project" project: Started by John Held Jr. in the 1980s, this project involved sending postcards to other artists and collectors, often with a specific theme or challenge.

These are just a few examples of the many talented mail art artists and organizations out there. If you're interested in learning more, I recommend exploring online archives, museums, and artist communities dedicated to mail art.