Wiradjuri artist Brandi Salmon, based on Palawa Country in Lutruwita (Tasmania), has launched Aunty's Dispatch, a first-of-its-kind non-traditional Aboriginal art subscription snail-mail club.
For just $13 AUD per month with free worldwide shipping, subscribers receive a hand-signed, limited-edition print, a letter written by Brandi from her studio, and small extras like stickers or notes on Blak history, all tucked inside a signature wax-sealed envelope.
Designed to feel like sitting down at the dining room table for a cuppa and a yarn with your aunty, Aunty's Dispatch offers a warm, nostalgic connection to art, culture, and storytelling. The artwork and stories are exclusive to the club and cannot be purchased anywhere else.
"I've always loved mail ever since I was little, collecting feathers and pretending they were quills like in the movies," Salmon said.
"Aunty's Dispatch is something I've wanted to create for a long time. It's a fun, heartfelt way to connect your art and a yarn in the post, and it's also a creative challenge for me to consistently create new work each month because artist's block is real."
The idea came to life after the talented artist noticed the growing nostalgia for letter-writing and tangible connection in a world dominated by screens. Salmon said she wanted to create Aunty's Dispatch as a moment of warmth and connection in what can sometimes feel like an overwhelming world.
"Things have been heavy lately for a lot of us. I wanted to make something light-hearted, cute and nostalgic, something that reminds people to slow down, have a cuppa, and smile when they open the letterbox," she said.
Aunty's Dispatch brings art, stories, and warmth straight to subscribers' doors each month.
Since launching last month, the club has already gathered more than 150 subscribers, including international members, and has quickly become one of the most talked-about new art subscription concepts online.
"I wanted to build something that felt warm, funny, and human again," Salmon explained.
"People are tired of algorithms. They want something real in their hands, made with love. With Christmas coming up, this is the perfect gift that spreads joy and also helps people learn about Blak history."
Through Aunty's Dispatch, Salmon hopes to encourage more people to engage with Aboriginal culture and storytelling, connecting First Nations peoples and allies alike through art and yarns.
Salmon's work draws on lived experience to reclaim cultural narratives and celebrate Blak identity. Through painting, murals and storytelling, she uses her art and platform as a form of Blaktivism, creating space for truth-telling and representation.
She is known for her 'Aunty' series, and has also painted for global celebrities, including Olivia Rodrigo and Lorde.
Subscriptions are now open online.
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