What is MAIL ART?

Mail art is ART sent through the MAIL, also called Postal Art and Correspondence Art.

How does MAIL ART work?

Artists throughout the world send small works on postcards, sheets of paper, or on the envelopes themselves to other artists and friends. Usually, these are one-of-a kind, unique works. Artists can also exchange their art back and forth in this simple, inexpensive form of creative sharing using their country’s public mail system.

Where did it come from?

MAIL ART grew out of the anti-art establishment movements in the 1960’s.  The FLUXUS which wanted to move art out of formal galleries and museums and make original works available to anybody for little cost. Fluxus also encouraged anyone to make art of any kind, since one of its mottos is “Everything is art.” Mail Art served its democratic and egalitarian values and has become a world-wide movement.

What is Ventura’s ARTLIFE Foundation relation to MAIL ART?

Ventura artist Joseph Cardella (1945- 2018)   an internationally recognized MAIL ART guru, created a monthly magazine composed entirely of MAIL ART.  For 25 years, artists from all around the world sent multiple copies to Cardella who produced 275 issues of his ARTLIFE magazine.

Cardella assembled each issue with 30-55 original works. He then bound and fitted them out with imaginative covers and mailed them to contributors, subscribers, and museums throughout the world. Upon his passing, he left his Home Studio, his many works of art in many media and a financial bequest to create the ARTLIFE Foundation. We honor his legacy with an annual MAIL ART Exhibition and visits to his Home Studio.

This year's theme, "SPONTANEOUS INSPIRATION," speaks to Mail Art's inherent ability to transform small works into a shared celebration of imaginative communication. Everything is Art; Everyone is an Artist.

We received over 250 submissions from countries  around the world including Ukraine and Russia. A public display of Mail Art is quite an unusual!

The works will be on display in Ventura and available for digital viewing on our website.  https://artlifefoundation.org