Remember the pleasure of receiving a letter from friends and family? For most people that’s a distant memory, and the only thing dropping onto the mat nowadays are bills and leaflets advertising pizza joints and double glazing, but Moyra Davey’s loved ones and artistic collaborators still get welcome deliveries through the post.

The Canadian artist creates “mailer” works, in which she turns her own photographic prints into visual letters by folding them into shape and affixing a stamp and address label. The overall artwork is often composed of multiple “letters” which the recipient pieces together like a jigsaw, and the patchwork is given a further dimension by the choice of sticker colour — either contrasting or unobtrusive — and the placement of the label and stamp within the component section and within the larger image as a whole.

London gallery greengrassi is presenting a solo exhibition of Davey’s work, which will include three of the New York-based artist’s mailer works. You’re a nice guy to let me hold you like this also features Davey’s new 28-minute episodic film, Notes on Blue, which considers topics including blindness, colour, and the life and work of filmmaker Derek Jarman. Closing date for the show is 24 October.

Moyra Davey, Trinity Dogs, 2015
20 b&w digital C-prints, tape, labels, postage, ink
each: 12 x 12 inches (30.48 x 30.48 cm)
overall: 48 x 60 inches (121.92 x 152.40 cm)

[a]

[b]

[c]

[d]

[a] Installation view
[b] Moyra Davey, Dr. Y., Dr. Y., 2014
15 digital C-prints, tape, labels, postage, ink
each: 12 x 18 inches (30.48 x 45.72 cm) overall: 60 x 54 inches (152.40 x 137.16 cm)
[c] Moyra Davey, Newspaper, Coffee (Liberty), 2015
13 digital C-prints, copper, aluminum & paper tape, labels, postage, ink
each: 12 x 18 inches (30.48 x 45.72 cm)
[d] Moyra Davey, Newspaper, Coffee (Film), 2015
15 digital C-prints, copper, aluminum & paper tape, labels, postage, ink
each: 12 x 18 inches (30.48 x 45.72 cm)

Moyra Davey, Newspaper, Coffee (Trees), 2015
13 digital C-prints, copper, aluminum & paper tape, labels, postage, ink
each: 12 x 18 inches (30.48 x 45.72 cm)

Moyra Davey, Notes on Blue, 2015
HD video, sound. 28 min. Edition 2/5

Moyra Davey, Elastic, 1998-2015
Chromogenic color print
20 x 24 inches (50.80 x 60.96 cm) Edition 2/5

Moyra Davey, Newspaper, Coffee (Receipts), 2015.
12 digital C-prints, copper, aluminum
& paper tape, labels, postage, ink
each: 12 x 18 inches (30.48 x 45.72 cm)

Moyra Davey, Newspaper, Coffee (Bones), 2015.
12 digital C-prints, copper, aluminum
& paper tape, labels, postage, ink
each: 12 x 18 inches (30.48 x 45.72 cm)

Moyra Davey, Times Square, 1996-2015
B&W gelatin silver print
20 x 24 inches (50.80 x 60.96 cm). Edition 2/5

Photography, Marcus Leith.
Courtesy of greengrassi, London