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

Stephen Tomasko commented on Ed Hanssen's event Are you pointing at me?
"Do you know the dates of the show yet?"
1 hour ago
Stephen Tomasko is attending Ed Hanssen's event
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Are you pointing at me? at KunstSalon Kasteel Daelenbroeck

September 4, 2026 to December 31, 2026
WHY:POINTING THE FINGER AT THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WARS ON OUR PLANET, PAST AND PRESENT.WHO IS TO BLAME? WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?THEM FOR STARTING WARS OR US ALLOWING THEM TO DO SO?NOT SEEKING FOR ANSWERS.RAISING AWARENESS, RETHINKINGTYPE ART:MAIL…See More
1 hour ago
Kiki left a comment for Ficus strangulensis
"OK! I will send you my mail art to you in Tennessee from now on! Please stay well, dear Fike ! 🙋🍀"
1 hour ago
Stephen Tomasko commented on Lars Schumacher's blog post Zuid-Willemsvaart - "WATER" Mail Art
"Thanks for the update and thrilled to be part of the exhibition!"
3 hours ago
Stephen Tomasko commented on Deb's event Fugitive Hearts
"I have a piece for you already on its way. I hope it arrives in time!"
3 hours ago
Stephen Tomasko commented on Maryrosa's blog post RECEIVED BY STEPHEN TOMASKO
"Yay! Glad you got it!!"
3 hours ago

Group Owner
Heleen de Vaan liked Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat)'s blog post Mail Artists meet up in Athens
5 hours ago
Lulu Flanagan joined Melanie Reed's group
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Surrealist Society

I was turned on to Dali and Max Ernst in my 20s and that was it for me. Ever since, I’ve been a committed Surrealism fan and…See More
6 hours ago
Lulu Flanagan liked Melanie Reed's photo
6 hours ago
Lulu Flanagan liked Melanie Reed's photo
6 hours ago
ddw posted photos
7 hours ago
Maxie Eulig posted a photo
9 hours ago
Medwolf liked Ana's photo
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Medwolf liked Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat)'s photo
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Medwolf liked Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat)'s photo
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Medwolf liked Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat)'s photo
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Medwolf liked Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat)'s photo
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Medwolf liked Maxie Eulig's blog post Lubomyr sent this 2 postcards, unique style. THANK YOU!
10 hours ago
Medwolf liked Maxie Eulig's blog post Thank you, Mikel Untzilla!
10 hours ago
Medwolf liked Maxie Eulig's blog post Zack ist auf Zack! Many thanks for the poem and ephemera. :)
10 hours ago

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Did anyone see this? Thoughts? 6 Replies

In Kolaj #42, “Bye Bye Mail Art” reflects on the global Mail Art movement and the fragile networks that have sustained it for decades. Rooted in the experimental spirit of Ray Johnson’s New York Correspondence School and Fluxus, Mail Art fostered…Continue

Started by Margaret Jeddry in Mail-Art Projects. Last reply by Margaret Jeddry on Sunday.

Mail Art as art therapy 10 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 Kathryn Kennedy on Sunday.

Copyright infringent 41 Replies

I noticed in various contributions, that many artists (''artists'' perhaps ?) are using large number of other's people works, taken from newspapers, magazines, books,etc. That could inflict the copyrights. In many cases, nobody will discuss it, and…Continue

Started by Predrag Petrovic in Mail-Art Projects. Last reply by Ana on Friday.

Drawing score: anyone feel like trying it? 5 Replies

After looking at Sol LeWitt’s instruction-based drawings, I tried writing a small drawing score of my own.I would like to see what happens when the instructions travel without an accompanying image. If anyone feels like trying one interpretation,…Continue

Started by Isabelle Dehennin in Other. Last reply by Isabelle Dehennin Oct 8.

Dear IUOMA people, today, I am wondering..... 33 Replies

Dear IUOMA people,Today, I wonder, if you are a discriminative type of person or a type of person who suspect /has doubts more or less on certain other IUOMA members ?I happen to be Asian myself and so I am sensitive on these issues more or less.For…Continue

Started by Kiki in Mail-Art Projects. Last reply by Mail Art News Oct 8.

After Ray Johnson: Add (to) and Return To Mail Art Call 15 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 Rebecca T. Sep 28.

Documentation of sent Mail Art 14 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 Carmela R Sep 14.

Page Trade/Exchange? 3 Replies

I often have several scribble/sketchbooks going at once, and I rarely finish them.Some pages contain work I consider unsuccessful or difficult to look at—usually because I was experimenting, learning, or simply having an off day. But those pages…Continue

Tags: Sketchbook, page, trade/exchange/collaboration

Started by Josofa in Mail-Art Projects. Last reply by Denice Newton Sep 10.

NETWORK PROJECT: Co-Conspirators Wanted to Spread Anti-Machine Zines 16 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 Jes Bidlack Sep 8.

Best adhesive for collage 86 Replies

A friend asks: What's the best adhesive for magazine collage that won't wrinkle the paper? I told him Spray Mount...anybody have any other suggestions?Continue

Started by David Stafford in Technical Details in Mail-Art. Last reply by Connor Engelsman Sep 7.

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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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