Artist trading cards

They are self-made unique works or small series, signed and dated on the reverse by the artist/producer, exchanged and collected by the people who participate in the collaboration.

An exhibition of 1200 of Stirnemann's cards ran at his second-hand bookshop and gallery INK.art&text in Zürich, Switzerland between 23 April and 31 May 1997.

[6] In April 1998, editions were shown at the Academy of Fine Arts in Stuttgart, Germany, and in June and July 1998 shows and trading sessions were organized in Arnhem and Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

[7] In July 1998, the New Gallery in Calgary showed "Hot Town: Artist Trading Cards in the Summer" (curated by Don Mabie).

[12] In 2002, Cat Schick started publishing editions of "Sister Trading Cards" (STCs) with ATCs from women only.

[19][20][21][22] The core purpose of the ATC concept was a free exchange between the participants to establish a rapport (collaborative performance).

In order to allow for profit gain and non artist collection, both the concept of a mutual exchange and the name of the cards were altered (while the size was kept).

[25] In 2005, Jillian Crider started the Small Format Art Group on eBay, which allowed for works "no more than 14 inches in any one direction".

[26] Whereas ATCs are rather shown in museums and special exhibitions (usually accompanied by a trading session), ACEOs are sold on auction sites, collected privately and reproduced in craft tutorials or other publications.