Jason Polan (1982–2020), famous for his ink sketches in the cult favorite collection Every Person in New York, also had a robust exchange of artwork through the mail with friends, fans, and pen pals (Marcel Dzama, Stefan Marx, Richard McGuire, Rich Jacobs, Alec Soth, Barry McGee, and others). These whimsical drawings and short text works were discovered in the wake of Polan’s untimely death and shed light on his prolific output.
Join us as Jason Fulford leads us through the editing process of The Post Office (Printed Matter, 2025). In gathering the material, the project reflects on Polan’s affinity for the U.S. Postal Service and his commitment to mail art as a means to build networks and make connections—a practice he maintained over many years with both friends and strangers alike. The result is a new perspective on Polan’s legacy, one that is playful and often touching, the contours of which offer an expanded portrait of the artist.
About the Author:
Jason Polan grew up in Franklin, MI, and attended the University of Michigan. In New York City, he founded the open-to-all Taco Bell Drawing Club. He had a regular column in The New York Times, and his drawings were published in The New Yorker, Metropolis, McSweeney’s, and other venues. His epic project to sketch “Every Person in New York” was a bestselling Chronicle book. He collaborated with UNIQLO, Nike, Vans, and Marvel Comics. Polan died at age 37 of cancer.
About the Speaker:
Brooklyn and Scranton, PA-based Jason Fulford is an artist, photographer, editor, teacher, and cofounder of J&L Books.
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