[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
National Postal Museum To Open Exhibition Exploring American Stories Through Stamp Art
“American Stories, American Stamps” Opens Nov. 20

The Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum will open “American Stories, American Stamps” Friday, Nov. 20, an exhibition that explores how postage stamps have reflected the people, events, achievements and cultural traditions that have shaped the nation. Opening as the United States marks its 250th anniversary, the exhibition invites visitors to discover how artists and designers transform American stories into miniature works of art.

Presented in English and Spanish, the exhibition explores the creative process behind stamp design through original artwork, preliminary sketches, approved and rejected designs and other materials from the U.S. Postal Service’s Postmaster General’s Collection. On view through 2029, the exhibition will feature changing displays of artwork and stamps representing the range of American experiences.

Since the first U.S. postage stamps were issued in 1847, stamps have served as one of the nation’s most widely shared forms of visual storytelling. The exhibition takes visitors behind the scenes to explore how postage stamps are imagined, designed and produced. By exploring the numerous stages of stamp production—from selecting subjects to developing original artwork to finalizing designs—visitors will discover how art directors, artists and graphic designers create stamps that communicate complex stories within a remarkably small space.

“Postage stamps have a unique ability to capture the people, events and experiences that have shaped this great nation, often through a single compelling image,” said Toby Mensforth [left], acting director of the museum. “As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, this exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to explore our shared history and discover how these miniature works of art reflect the richness and diversity of American life.”

Organized around 12 themes—science, sports, holidays, the arts, entertainment, social awareness, literature, kids, patriotism, nature, history and civic leaders—the exhibition demonstrates the extraordinary breadth of American stories represented on postage stamps. These themes act as a consistent framework throughout the exhibition, while original artwork and other objects will rotate periodically, offering visitors new opportunities to explore the nation’s history, culture and experiences through stamp art.

The exhibition also highlights the central role of graphic design in communicating these stories. By examining preliminary concepts alongside approved artwork and finished stamps, visitors can see how artists experiment with color, composition, symbolism and other design elements—and how those creative decisions shape the images ultimately selected for postage stamps. Exhibition highlights include:

• The Emancipation Proclamation: Original artwork for the 2013 stamp commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation features a bold typographic design by artist Gail Anderson and art director Antonio Alcalá, demonstrating how the power of words can be conveyed through stamp art.
• Total solar eclipse: A 2017 stamp designed by art director Antonio Alcalá uses heat-sensitive ink that reveals the moon when touched, creating a miniature solar eclipse and demonstrating an innovative approach to stamp design.
• Lunar New Year: Original artwork by artist Kam Mak for the 2016 Year of the Monkey stamp features peonies symbolizing wealth and honor, illustrating how artists incorporate cultural traditions and symbolism into their designs.
• Breast cancer research: Original watercolor and ink artwork by Whitney Sherman for the nation’s first semipostal stamp, issued in 1998, draws inspiration from classical imagery to communicate strength, courage and hope.
• American arts and culture: Original stamp artwork honoring dancer and choreographer Katherine Dunham [left], writer Katherine Anne Porter and other cultural figures demonstrates how artists capture the achievements and contributions of Americans through portraiture and illustration.

A central feature of the exhibition is the Postmaster General’s Collection, which began in the 1860s as an internal reference file for stamps issued by the U.S. Post Office Department. The collection, maintained and expanded by the U.S. Postal Service and housed at the National Postal Museum on long-term loan, includes original artwork, approved and rejected stamp designs, printing proofs and other production materials that document the evolution of American stamp design.

“Every postage stamp begins with an idea, but bringing that idea to life requires thoughtful decisions about imagery, color, composition and the story being told,” said Alison Bazylinski, curator of the exhibition. “By displaying original artwork alongside finished stamps, we invite visitors to discover the creative choices behind familiar images and gain a new appreciation for the artistry involved in producing them.”

Visitors will also discover how the American public can suggest subjects for future postage stamps through the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee, which reviews proposals and recommends subjects for consideration by the U.S. Postal Service. The exhibition follows the committee’s process from initial ideas through artistic development and final approval, revealing how stamp subjects and designs are selected to represent the many facets of American life.

41¢ Mendez v. Westminster 60th Anniversary approved stamp art, c. 2007

“American Stories, American Stamps” builds upon an exhibition originally developed by U.S. Postal Service art directors Antonio Alcalá and Greg Breeding, featuring the work of Alcalá, Breeding, Ethel Kessler and Derry Noyes. The National Postal Museum’s presentation expands upon that exhibition with original artwork and other materials from the Postmaster General’s Collection.

The exhibition received funding from the Smithsonian’s “Our Shared Future: 250,” a Smithsonian-wide initiative supported by private philanthropy and created to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary and advance the Smithsonian’s vision for the next 250 years.

The exhibition is supported by public programming, as well as educational resources for teachers. A special exhibition website provides additional information about “American Stories, American Stamps.” A digital press kit featuring exhibition images and captions is available.

About the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum
The National Postal Museum is devoted to presenting the colorful and engaging history of the nation’s mail service and showcasing one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of stamps and philatelic material in the world. It is located at 2 Massachusetts Ave. N.E., Washington, D.C., across from Union Station. The museum is currently open daily, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information about the Smithsonian, call (202) 633-1000.