The Evolution of the ATC Movement
While the roots of the ATC movement can be traced back to the Mail Art and Fluxus movements of the 1960s, and even earlier to the Dadaist movement of the 1920s, Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) as we know them were popularized in 1997 with the help of Swiss artist M. Vanci Stirnemann.
Stirnemann held a 1200 card showing in Zurich, Switzerland in which he offered those attending a chance to obtain one of his cards if they brought one of their own to exchange.
Canadian artist Chuck Stake (aka Don Mable) was in attendance and, being enthusiastic about the idea, collaborated with Stirnemann to stage “The First International Biennial of Artist Trading Cards” at The New Gallery in Calgary, Canada in 2000. That ATC event included 80 artists from 10 different countries. Fueled by considerable online activity, interest in ATCs has become an international movement, growing an average of 10% per year.
As the movement has grown, a few guidelines have remained consistent:
• The size of an ATC is 2.5 x 3.5 inches (64 X 89 mm)
• ATCs are traded for other cards—not sold
• ATCs should be flat enough to fit into a plastic trading card sleeve
• ATCs are usually signed and dated on the back of the card
Today, ATC swaps happen in major cities throughout the world and online trading sites have provided a way for artists to display their work and to connect and trade, no matter their location. Learn more about trading >
Stirnemann held a 1200 card showing in Zurich, Switzerland in which he offered those attending a chance to obtain one of his cards if they brought one of their own to exchange.
Canadian artist Chuck Stake (aka Don Mable) was in attendance and, being enthusiastic about the idea, collaborated with Stirnemann to stage “The First International Biennial of Artist Trading Cards” at The New Gallery in Calgary, Canada in 2000. That ATC event included 80 artists from 10 different countries. Fueled by considerable online activity, interest in ATCs has become an international movement, growing an average of 10% per year.
As the movement has grown, a few guidelines have remained consistent:
• The size of an ATC is 2.5 x 3.5 inches (64 X 89 mm)
• ATCs are traded for other cards—not sold
• ATCs should be flat enough to fit into a plastic trading card sleeve
• ATCs are usually signed and dated on the back of the card
Today, ATC swaps happen in major cities throughout the world and online trading sites have provided a way for artists to display their work and to connect and trade, no matter their location. Learn more about trading >