Custom designed, non-licensed sports cards have been around for decades. Also known as ACEO cards – which stands for Art Card Editions and Originals – these are cards that are created by individuals or companies as an alternative to licensed, mainstream sports trading cards.
Back in the height of the junk era – 1986 – 1994, or thereabouts – ACEO cards were created and distributed everywhere – card shows, local card shops, etc. Sometimes as promotions for other businesses, but more often just as a means to capitalize on the booming card collecting industry at the time. Many junk era ACEO cards drifted out of the collective consciousness and can still be found on eBay for a buck or less. Some, however, are notorious in other ways and are highly sought after to this day by the right collector.
The modern take on ACEO cards is in the latest boom in the hobby, often know simply as “customs”. Credit to Topps for getting the ball rolling with Topps Project 2020 and Project 70 and the like. While people have been designing their own cards for years prior, the concept and release of these popular cards created a boom in market demand for highly unique, original, custom designed cards. And whether licensed or not, artists and designers have capitalized on the surge and have been creating incredible designs. Stay tuned for a featured post specifically about custom designed sports cards and featured designers.
Sports Card Art Pieces
Another take on custom sports cards is in the rise in popularity of one-of-one custom sports card art pieces. The variety is limitless, but generally the concept is that an artist takes an existing card, and alters it in some way to create a unique 1/1 piece of art. Other artists might hand draw or paint their own cards (check out , or create other types of mixed media art based on a specific iconic sports card. The options and ideas are limited only by the imaginations of the artists.
2020 and 2021 have seen the community of sports card artists and designers grow exponentially, however, it’s still a fairly tight niche. Generally card artists are very collaborative and supportive of other artists and all push and inspire each other to create new and original concepts and push them out into the world. While card art carries a very niche demand among collectors and art enthusiasts, the demand is there and real. Super collectors, player collectors, and the rare – or what was maybe previously perceived as rare – combination of sports and art collectors, have been super supportive of the card art genre and lend their applause and wallets to the cause often.
The reality is, sports cards and art have always been intermingled. Card producers have been releasing cards featuring paintings, sketches and art of athletes for decades, and certainly sports cards themselves are viewed by many as works of art in-and-of themselves. With Instagram and Twitter, and other platforms making it as easy as pie for anyone to put their hobbies and work out into the world, it’s no surprise that the card art genre has blossomed the way it has.
Be sure to check out some of the best of the best card artists and designers and if you’re into such a thing…support your local card artist (no matter where they are from).
Oh and by the way, yes, I am a card artist as well 🙂
Check out my card art gallery, and find @bsportscards on Instagram and Twitter and be sure to say hello!
Featured Sports Card Artists
While these may be a few of the more prominent artists, and many of my favorites, there are many, many more. Be sure to get on Instagram and Twitter and surf around, #CardArt is a rabbit hole well worth exploring.