Published as part of Printed Matter’s artistamp series, Portrait of an Unknown Soldier is a pinhole perforated, risograph printed sheet of 15 stamps by Shori Sims. Includes a risograph print of the design.

“I conceptualized an afro-futurist utopic world: a reimagining of the past that made room for a new and better future featuring the power of natural Black hair to create sculptural forms such as masks and helmets. I was inspired by a kabuto, or a modified Corinthian helmet that covers much of the face save for the eyes. With the ivy flourish forming a frame around the portrait, I was mimicking a vintage stamp. Specifically, those from the 20th century that depicted Queen Elizabeth as a young woman. Like those portraits, I wanted to convey the quiet strength of a warrior.”

These Artistamps are not valid postage. Please purchase postage via USPS :)

Printed Matter remains dedicated to sustaining our participation in the uprising against systemic racism and police brutality, and social and economic injustice. We will be donating 30% of net proceeds from all Artistamp sales to The Prisoner Correspondence Project, a collectively-run initiative based out of Montreal, Quebec that coordinates a direct-correspondence program for LGBTQI+ inmates in Canada and the US.