In 1988 the idea of the IUOMA was born. In November 2008 this NING platform for IUOMA became the home for members

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Somehow people always think that if a group of artists work together that then there must automatically be some kind of organisation that coordinates it all. Well, in mail art there are many groups working together. These groups themselves also work together, but there is NO organisation that arranges all the things that go on in the mail art network. The I.U.O.M.A. is the Union that mail artists can become a member of. The Union has no rules. Everybody who is active in mail art and hears about the Union can become a member just by saying so.

In 1988 the idea of the IUOMA was born. I invented this name and made forms for people to become a member of this (fictive) union. About 300 mail artists reacted in a year, and official membership cards were made, even a official Union Magazine was published. Anybody who was a member of the Union could also claim a special function within the Union.

Even today, people still join the Union. And somehow it gives power, to say that YOU are a member of the International Union too.  It is just the center for archiving all the things that are going on. But I am not in control of the Union. I just invented it. And to make it official, I made myself General-President of this Union. Sure was impressive when I travelled to the USSR in 1991 and went to visit some friends there who were also members of this Union........

Today online on Ning there are thousands of members. On December 2nd 2018 the 5000th member joined in.

 

Latest Activity

Penelope Timm joined Ruud Janssen's group
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Richard C. Fan Club

This is the Richard C. Fan Club. Richard Canard sends out very well thought out mail-art. Fan's of Mister C. can join this group, and if you have received work form him, please share it hereSee More
56 minutes ago
Jason Bartlett liked Zorica Obradović's blog post Coco Thank You ...+...
1 hour ago
Jason Bartlett liked awyn's blog post Received from Coco Muchmore (Kansas, USA)
1 hour ago
Jason Bartlett commented on Ilya Semenenko-Basin's blog post I received a Mail Art from Jason Bartlett
"Thank you 😊 for sharing ❤️"
1 hour ago
Jason Bartlett liked Ilya Semenenko-Basin's blog post I received a Mail Art from Jason Bartlett
1 hour ago
Leslie Levenson commented on Leslie Levenson's blog post Mail from Richard Baudet
"And here is mail I received from Richard at the end of 2025…"
2 hours ago
Leslie Levenson posted a blog post

Mail from Richard Baudet

Today I received a hand-lettered envelope from Richard in Marseille. Always beautiful calligraphy.See More
2 hours ago
Penelope Timm posted a blog post
6 hours ago

Group Owner
Cassaglia artista Neo-Fluxus posted a photo
6 hours ago
Stefaan Vermuyten and Domenico Ferrara Foria are now friends
9 hours ago
Devin S. Turk replied to Rebecca T.'s discussion After Ray Johnson: Add (to) and Return To Mail Art Call
"I'm interested!  I'll message you my address."
10 hours ago
Medwolf liked Ana's blog post ​Thank you Pascal for the wonderful Mail Art & Stamp!
10 hours ago
Medwolf liked Treah Pichette's blog post Today's mail from Richard Baudet (always a treat) & Bonniediva (always hysterical). A big thank you to you both!
10 hours ago
Medwolf liked marlies wilding's blog post terrific mail art from mh//antipode in germany
10 hours ago
Treah Pichette posted a blog post
10 hours ago
ddw liked marlies wilding's blog post terrific mail art from mh//antipode in germany
11 hours ago
ddw posted photos
11 hours ago
William M liked Ana's blog post ​Thank you Pascal for the wonderful Mail Art & Stamp!
11 hours ago
William M liked marlies wilding's blog post terrific mail art from mh//antipode in germany
11 hours ago
ddw posted photos
11 hours ago

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After Ray Johnson: Add (to) and Return To Mail Art Call 2 Replies

Call for ContributorsAFTER RAY JOHNSON MAIL ART PROJECT – INSTRUCTIONS/FAQHELLO!This is an invitation to participate in a mail art project dedicated to Ray Johnson, the founding father of mail art.ALTER OR ADD TO THE ENCLOSED COLLAGEI will send you…Continue

Tags: rayjohnson, mailart, exchange

Started by Rebecca T. in Mail-Art Projects. Last reply by Devin S. Turk 10 hours ago.

ADDRESS WRITTEN IN RED 31 Replies

are there any volunteers for the research?a few days ago they didn't want to receive my envelope at the post office.The reason was the ADDRESS WRITTEN IN RED.They say that any color can be used except red.Red is supposedly for controllers.If anyone…Continue

Started by Zorica Obradović in Mail-Art Projects. Last reply by Zorica Obradović on Wednesday.

Worldwide diminishing postal service 11 Replies

Please complete the situation regarding the postal services in your country.Sad news: starting next month, mail will only be delivered three times a week in The Netherlands. Reason: cutbacks. Stamps are becoming more expensive.Continue

Started by Carien van Hest in Mail-Art Information. Last reply by Rebecca T. Jul 28.

NETWORK PROJECT: Co-Conspirators Wanted to Spread Anti-Machine Zines 13 Replies

Calling all mail artists!,I have printed an underground zine fighting back against the corporate "efficiency trap," data-mining, and the trillion-dollar attention economy. It is a call to become illiterate to the algorithm and fluent in each other.I…Continue

Started by Matthew (mm2001) in Mail-Art Magazines and Publications. Last reply by Denice Newton Jul 24.

Mail art blogs and twitter accounts 57 Replies

Many of us keep blogs and have twitter accounts, and I know that many of us post up our best work there. Personally I love seeing people's work on their blogs, and I follow the latest work of many mailartists on Twitter too, where the banter is…Continue

Tags: mailartists, twitter, blogs

Started by andytgeezer in Mail-Art Information. Last reply by Franis Jul 21.

Mail Art as art therapy for victims of online bullying 8 Replies

People who have been harmed online are often expected to keep using digital spaces as though nothing happened. Cyberbullying attacks identity, erodes confidence, and leaves people hypervigilant in the very spaces they are expected to inhabit.  Most…Continue

Started by Kathryn Kennedy in Mail-Art Projects. Last reply by Eduardo Cardoso Jul 15.

Documentation of sent Mail Art 13 Replies

Since the beginning of my involvement in Mail Art that I keep a digital archive of sent material.Do you document in any way the Mail Art you send to others? Or do you just let it go its way and forget about it?Continue

Started by Eduardo Cardoso in Mail-Art Discussions. Last reply by Kathryn Kennedy Jul 15.

👽👽👽 2 Replies

Today, I learned what it feels like to have mail-art returned. It isn’t so terrible, really—as long as you can embrace life exactly as you live it.…Continue

Started by Zorica Obradović in Mail-Art Projects. Last reply by Zorica Obradović Jun 29.

[offer] hidicards -- simple collage postcards (no exchange expected) 15 Replies

hello mail artists,during full-time caregiving seasons, i've made postcard-sized collages in spare moments. they are very simple, sometimes oddly composed--but they exist.all are made from found materials, and most include images of women.rather…Continue

Started by J S in Mail-Art Projects. Last reply by Kit Gonzales Moore Jun 29.

💌❗ 10 Replies

"Serbia is officially following 'global trends'—postage prices just went up! Still affordable, but hey, at least we’re staying trendy! 😁😁😁🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣❗"Continue

Started by Zorica Obradović in Mail-Art Discussions. Last reply by Ana Jun 24.

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Want to support the IUOMA with a financial gift via PayPal?

The money will be used to keep the IUOMA-platform alive. Current donations keep platform online till 1-aug-2027. If you want to donate to get IUOMA-publications into archives and museums please mention this with your donation. It will then be used to send some hardcopy books into museums and archives. You can order books yourself too at the IUOMA-Bookshop. That will sponsor the IUOMA as well.

IMPORTANT: please use the friends/family option with donation on Paypal. That makes transaction fee the lowest.

This IUOMA platform on NING has no advertisings, so the funding is completely depending on donations by members. Access remains free for everybody off course

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