A paper horse, folded, painted, and photographed as if it might trot off the envelope.
In 2026 the Postal Service issues the seventh of twelve stamps in its current Lunar New Year series, which began in 2020 and continues through 2031 with the Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Boar. The holiday is marked with parades, fireworks and festivals in Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and other East and Southeast Asian communities across America. For the Year of the Horse, artist Camille Chew built a three-dimensional mask from hand-printed paper — cut, scored and folded, then finished with acrylic paint, paper flowers and tassels, the back lined with papier-mâché — and photographed it against white. The form recalls the ornate masks of dragon and lion dances, and reads as a contemporary take on paper-cut folk art made at this time of year. The Year of the Horse begins February 17, 2026 and runs to February 5, 2027; those born under it are described as energetic, free-spirited, confident and hardworking.
Send it to someone who needs a bit of that in the coming year.
PERFECT FOR: Lunar New Year cards and red envelopes, journal pages, office and shop displays, gifts for a newborn in a Horse year, and the twelve-year series in progress.
