How to Participate

Mail art submissions must be:

• No larger than 6 inches high by 11.5 inches long
• No thicker than a quarter
• Mailed as-is—no envelopes, please!
  
  

Artists are encouraged to use any medium they choose, keeping within these parameters to ensure safe and affordable mailing. Most submissions should cost no more than $1.46 to send (or two Forever stamps).

For the safety of our postal carriers, we ask that you refrain from including any hazardous or perishable materials.

Mail art may be sent anonymously or with a return address, and must be postmarked no later than August 9, 2025. Please mail your work to:

Kansas City Art Institute
Attn: The Underground
4415 Warwick Blvd.
Kansas City, MO 64111

What Happens to Your Artwork

As mail art arrives, each piece will be scanned and digitally archived. Selected submissions will be featured on KCAI’s social media platforms. All submissions will be displayed in a physical exhibition held at The Underground from August 18 through September 28, 2025. A public closing reception will take place on September 28 from 1 to 4 p.m., providing a space to gather, connect, and celebrate the creativity of our community.

After the close of the exhibition, all works will be preserved in the Jannes Library Artist Files, extending their legacy and availability to future students and researchers.

What is Mail Art?

According to the Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus, mail art consists of "works produced by artists, often in postcard format, specifically intended to be mailed to other artists or be displayed in an exhibition.”

Rooted in the radical practices of the 1960s Fluxus movement and the New York Correspondence School founded by Ray Johnson, mail art remains a democratic and non-commercial form of artistic exchange. It welcomes all who wish to participate—no jury, no fees, no censorship, and all submissions are exhibited.

Today, mail art continues to foster global dialogue and creative experimentation—foreshadowing the memes and messages of our digital age.

About The Underground

Located beneath the Tony Jones Studios and the KCAI Gallery, The Underground is a vital part of campus life. It houses KCAI’s Art Supply Store, Print Center, and Mailroom—providing students and faculty with everything from art materials and dorm essentials to printing services and mail handling. Whether you’re printing zines or mailing artwork across the globe, The Underground is here to help.

For questions about the exhibition, mailing guidelines, or The Underground, please contact us at artstore@kcai.edu.

We look forward to seeing your creativity in the mail!