2026 Statewide Postcard Contest Winners!
We’re so excited to share the winners of this year’s Alaskan Postcard Contest!
When we first opened submissions, we didn’t really know what to expect. What we got was over 140 pieces of artwork and photography, each one offering a different way of seeing Alaska. From landscapes and wildlife to small, quiet moments, these submissions reflect the depth of creativity within Alaska’s artist community.
Spending time with this many entries is always a little overwhelming in the best way. Narrowing it down to ten winners was not easy, and we’re incredibly grateful to our judging panel for taking on that task with so much care and thoughtfulness. We kept coming back to the same questions: which pieces stay with you? Which ones feel like they could travel and carry a sense of Alaska with them?
The ten selected works will be printed as Alaskan postcards and available in the shop both individually and as a full set. One of our favorite parts of this process is knowing these pieces won’t just live on a wall or a screen; they’ll be mailed, held onto, pinned up, and shared. Small, tangible ways of sending a piece of Alaska to someone else.
At Kindred Post, we’re proud to support artists by creating space for their work to be seen, shared, and sent out into the world.
We also want to say a genuine thank you to everyone who submitted. It takes something to put your work out there, and we don’t take that lightly. We hope you continue to share your art with the world.
Below are the selected works and the artists behind them:
My Icy Home by Claire Cartier. Claire grew up in Juneau and has visited Mendenhall Glacier almost every year of her life. Nothing shows how fleeting beauty can be quite like a melting glacier, and even as things change, that beauty lives on in this photo. 1st place winner in the photography category
Wildflowers of Alaska by Savanna Hancock. Savanna is an anti-AI artist who focuses on character design and folk tale–themed art, bringing a thoughtful and intentional approach to their work. 1st place in the fine arts category
Most Interesting Marmot by Anna E. Cramer. Anna was born in Anchorage and shaped by her many years in Juneau. She’s a multidisciplinary artist whose work draws from her deep Alaskan roots and connection to nature. 2nd place in the photography category
Great Blue Heron by Salomé Starbuck. Salomé is a Lingít artist living in Juneau whose work is informed by a deep relationship with animals, nature, and the Earth. 2nd place in the fine arts category
Bear Gaze by Rylee Jensen. Rylee is a wildlife photographer, researcher, and expedition leader living in Juneau. She has worked with Alaskan brown bears for the past seven years and hopes to show their gentler side, something viewers might recognize within themselves. 3rd place in the photography category
Iliamna Dreams by xochiyollotl. A multidisciplinary artist living and creating in Homer, Alaska. 3rd place in the fine arts category
Over & Under by Kieran Wentzel. A sophomore at Sitka High, this piece captures the quiet magic found in nature.
Spirit of Alaska by Sid Karlin. Sid is a photographer drawn to nature’s beauty, and this image was captured along the Seward Highway.
Sandhill Summer by Griffen Cole Sukkaew. Griffen is a Thai-American artist living in the interior of Alaska, with a love for birds, bugs, shrimp, and seals.
Alaska’s Playground by Marianne Elson; an award-winning Alaskan artist inspired by the wold beauty and light of Alaska.
Postcards will be available for sale individually and as a set in May at their storefront at 145 South Franklin in Juneau and online at www.kindredpost.com.
About Kindred Post
Kindred Post is a post office, gift shop, and gathering space rooted in connection. We strive to cultivate a sense of belonging in our neighborhood and beyond. We put art at the center of our work because we believe in the power of artists to tell our stories, bring people together, and lead positive social change.
To learn more about Kindred Post, visit www.kindredpost.com