Papirmass Art Subscription Box Review – September 2017

Papirmass (pronounced pah-purr-mass) is a Canadian art subscription that sends you a print from a new artist or illustrator each month. Their name is a play on the Danish word for "pulp," and they were founded by two artists to help keep themselves and others inspired and motivated through art.

How cute is this shipping envelope? It definitely put a smile on my face when I picked up the mail!

My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

What is Papirmass?

The Subscription Box: Papirmass

The Cost: $14/month ($12/month for prepaid quarterly, or $8/month for prepaid annual).

The Products: One artist print plus info about the artist and an additional card with creative and inspirational quotes/activities, each month.

Ships to: Ships worldwide for free!

Good to Know: You must sign up before the last day of each month to receive that month's artist.

Check out more subscription boxes for the home and office in our subscription box directory!

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

Papirmass Edition #94, Featuring Bouyun Kim

I signed up for Papirmass one late night when I received a targeted ad on Instagram. I love collecting art and have been looking for some new pieces to brighten up my office; the $12/month price for the quarterly prepaid subscription was just too affordable to miss.

Papirmass spoils the artist each month and will post some of their artwork + an interview on their site... but they never reveal the piece you'll receive ahead of time, so it's always a surprise.

I had scoped out Boyoun Kim's work a bit before I signed up, and I really enjoyed her simple figures and fun, bright, illustrations. Her use of flat areas of color feels both retro and modern, and was right up my alley!

Here's the big reveal:

What a striking image from Boyoun Kim! This print is titled "Moving Forward."

The offset print is 8.5" x 12.5", so a little bigger than your usual printer paper, and it's on a nice sturdy paper stock. I love the colors and especially the patterns in the landscape and trees:

Perfect for fall, although I'd be happy to receive this print any time of year!

This is the backside of the print, which has information about both the subscription and the artwork itself. They even include display suggestions and some art appreciation prompts! This was unexpected and I thought it was a really lovely and considerate touch.

Papirmass also includes this edited artist interview. Boyoun Kim shares that her inspiration for this work was a fortune cookie that read, "Do not waste your time hesitating. It is the time to move forward." Perfect office artwork, no? 🙂

I also learned that she works in silkscreen as well as digital media, which makes sense given the flat layers of colorblocking found in her work.

You can find the full interview on their website for even more info.

I wasn't exactly sure what else would be in this subscription except for the print itself. This Amelia Earhart quote is our "Creative Card" for the month and definitely goes along with the print's themes.

The back of this card includes a short creative exercise to help inspire gratitude. All in all, I love the spirit of this package: inspiration both through visual art and meaningful actions.

I couldn't resist hanging everything almost immediately! I tacked the print up simply on my corkboard with a little Icelandic waterfall photo I took earlier this summer, and added the Amelia Earhart quote for a bit of motivation. It's definitely helped add a little color to this room, and it's nice to look up at this throughout the day for a little mini break.

Verdict

What a beautiful introduction to Papirmass! I really appreciate how well thought out this subscription is, especially given the affordable price point. They really thought of everything inside and out (and front and back!), which makes for a really exciting unboxing moment and helps make sure you're prepared to display and even appreciate your artwork long after the box is delivered.

For $14/month (or less if you buy a prepaid quarterly or annual subscription), I'd be surprised if you could find a similar art subscription that is better at this price point. Definitely something to consider if you're looking for a unique housewarming gift or to brighten your own walls with some unique new prints!

Is this box still available if I subscribe today? No. If you sign up now (before October 31st), your first box will be the October box.

What do you think about Papirmass?

Do you like receiving surprise art in the mail? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!