Amalia Wojciechowski, assistant director and collections curator
Imagine this: a wall of postcard-sized artworks stretches before you—each one original, waiting for its forever home. The clock is ticking. Do you go for the bold splash of color that pulls your eye? The delicate graphite drawing that whispers for a closer look? The fun—and the tension—is in your selection.
That is the beauty of Project Postcard. Since 2010, it has transformed the act of collecting into something electric—a game of instinct and intuition. No labels, no names, only the work itself calling out. The twist? You won’t know which artist created your treasure until after you’ve picked it. With 76 artists contributing this year—including 15 Master Wildlife Artists—the surprise is part of the charm.
Paula Waterman, In the Pink, 2021, oil on canvas, Museum purchase with proceeds provided by Project Postcard
Jeremy Bradshaw, Saw-Wheet Dreams (ed. 25), 2022, bronze, Museum purchase with proceeds provided by Project Postcard
Looking back at the artwork created for the program is overwhelming: over 1,000 4 x 6-inch original postcard artworks have been created by generous, talented artists over the past 15 years. Artworks acquired through Project Postcard have represented 66 artists and spanned just about every medium imaginable, including 34 paintings, 5 sculptures, 1 cut paper, 12 prints, 9 drawings, 1 textile, 1 pyrograph, 1 scratchboard, and 13 watercolors. That’s a lot of talent squeezed into tiny rectangles. As a whole, these little artworks have contributed to 77 Birds in Art artworks acquired for the Museum’s collection.
Zev Labinger, Crow’s Nest, 2008, oil on canvas, Museum purchase with proceeds provided by Project Postcard
This year marks Project Postcard’s 15th anniversary, and the tension, delight, and surprise remain as fresh as ever. The program—open to Patron-level members and above—gives you a timed chance to follow your instincts and claim a tiny masterpiece. So celebrate this milestone with us and join the flock of art lovers who know the best things really do come in small packages.
