This month, Surface Gallery's International Postcard Show unites artists across the globe with an inclusive exhibition showcasing a multi-medium array of postcard-sized artworks, created by artists as far-flung as Japan. Charlotte Pimm-Smith talks to exhibitions co-ordinator Jez Kirby about it.
The International Postcard Show is the longest running exhibition in Surface Gallery’s history, spanning at least twenty-two years of its operation, from Surface’s time as Turtle Arts on Mansfield Road in 2002 to its current residence on Southwell Road. According to Exhibitions Coordinator Jez Kirby it’s a “staple not only in our exhibitions calendar, but also Nottingham’s.”
The only prerequisite is that the submission conforms to the standard dimensions of the postcard, so long as you meet this criterion, you’re in. All postcards, whether created by established artists or those who are just starting out, will be hung in the Main Gallery. Schools, charities and other organisations are also welcome to submit in groups for half of the ‘already affordable’ submissions fee. “We often have young and inexperienced artists, children, exhibiting side-by-side with quite established artists”, says Jez.
There are four prizes on offer for which exhibiting artists will compete. The first is £100 donated by Opulent Art, a £25 Etsy voucher is second, third is a year’s subscription to Aesthetica Magazine, and the fourth is The People’s Prize. This is where visitors vote for their favourite postcard, depositing their choice in the Surface post-box. The winning artist is then awarded a free exhibition in Surface’s exhibition space, Le Loovre.
During the exhibition all postcards are on sale for £15 each and when the show comes to an end the unsold pieces are randomly swapped between participants, connecting artists and communities from different parts of the world together in a mass artistic exchange. If you haven’t already got involved this year, fear not, as the show will be back to kick off 2026, according to Jez.
“I think the postcard show has become synonymous with Surface,” he says, adding, “so it’ll probably keep going as long as Surface does, well into the next century!”
The International Postcard Show takes place between Friday 10 January and Saturday 8 February 2025.
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