What are trading cards if not vast collections of art pieces you collect? Whenever fans clamor to know about new Pokémon joining the franchise, they’re really hoping to see new artwork revealed. And so, it only makes sense for Pokémon to engage with other famous artists. This time, Pokémon is collaborating with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. This partnership brings Van Gogh’s art style to a Pokémon exhibit that celebrates some of our favorite creatures of all. And it even gives Pokémon Masters a chance to collect a new rare promo card, “Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat.” However, there have been some changes in how you can acquire the card and some overall evolutions in the collaboration since its initial release. Here’s the latest news on what’s going on with this Van Gogh and Pokémon meeting of the minds.
Jump to: The Permanent Pokémon x Van Gogh Collection // The Van Gogh Pikachu Promo Card // Can You Get the Van Gogh Pikachu Pokémon Card Online? // Exhibit Information // Pokémon x Van Gogh Museum Merchandise From The Pokémon Center // Every Item in the Collection // Pokémon x Van Gogh Museum Merchandise at the Museum // When Will the Pokémon x Van Gogh Museum Merchandise Go Live?
Pokémon at the Van Gogh Museum’s Permanent Collection
A release from the Van Gogh Museum shares more about this gorgeous partnership. It notes, “To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Van Gogh Museum, Pokémon and the Van Gogh Museum have launched an official collaboration aimed at introducing new audiences to the work of Vincent van Gogh.” And that feels like a very worthy cause to us. If Pokémon can get more people into a museum and get them thinking about what art means, well, that’s excellent.
The Van Gogh Museum has teased several pieces from its Pokémon art exhibit, but there will be a total of six. The museum notes, “Several of Vincent van Gogh’s most famous works from the permanent collection of the Van Gogh Museum served as inspiration for six paintings made by artists from The Pokémon Company.” Right now, we get to see “Pikachu in a work inspired by Self-portrait with Grey Felt Hat (1887), the Pokémon Sunflora is hidden in a variant of Van Gogh’s famous Sunflowers (1889), and you can find Snorlax and Munchlax relaxing in a work inspired by The Bedroom (1888).” Additionally, Eevee features in another self-portrait-inspired work. And we think we spy some Honchkrow and Corviknight flapping around in a piece reminiscent of Wheatfield with Crows.
How to Get the New Van Gogh Pikachu Pokémon Promo Card
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Pokémon event without a new card to take home. Initially, fans visiting the exhibit at the Van Gogh Museum could catch a new Pikachu TCG card inspired by the artist. But unfortunately, this promo Pokémon card is no longer available in person at the Van Gogh Museum.
The museum shares, “The Van Gogh Museum and The Pokémon Company International take the safety and security of visitors and staff very seriously. Recently, a small group of individuals has created an undesirable situation that has led us to take the difficult decision to remove the Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat promo card from the museum. In this way, visitors will be able to experience this special collection of Pokémon paintings and the rest of the museum in a safe and enjoyable manner.”
However, this doesn’t mean the Van Gogh Pikachu Pokémon Card is gone forever. The Van Gogh Museum further notes how you can get the Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat promo card. It offers, “Pokémon will also reintroduce the promo card in participating retailers in the Netherlands early next year. It will not be available via the Van Gogh Museum.”
Can You Buy the Van Gogh Pikachu Pokémon Card Online?
Of course, not everyone can visit the Netherlands. And this ultimately leaves fans with one important question, is the Van Gogh promo Pokémon card, “Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat,” available online?
Yes, appears to be the answer; you can get “Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat” via online purchasing, making it more available to everyone. However, when fans will be able to get their hands on the promo Pikachu isn’t yet clear. The Van Gogh Museum reveals that “Fans shopping at Pokémon Center (United Kingdom, United States and Canada) will soon receive another opportunity to obtain the Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat promo card. Pokémon will give additional updates through its official email and social media channels.”
Meanwhile, The Pokémon Company itself has also given an update on the situation. The full text of its post reads, “Fans shopping at Pokémon Center will soon receive another opportunity to obtain the “Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat” promo card. Trainers will receive one “Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat” promo card with a Pokémon Center order containing Pokémon Trading Card Game products, while supplies last (minimum purchase of $30 in qualifying Pokémon TCG items required, limited to one promo card per order).” Hopefully, allowing fans to receive a Van Gogh Pokémon card with any qualifying purchase will remove some of the pressure from the situation.
These updates come after The Pokémon Center almost immediately sold out of all of its Van Gogh-related merchandise at the time of their initial release. At that point, only a purchase of Pokémon x Van Gogh Museum merchandise came with the special Pikachu card. However, many were not able to get the Pokémon promo card because of the speedy sell-out.
Of note, merchandise purchased from The Van Gogh Museum’s online shop will not come with a promo Pikachu.
How Many Van Gogh Pikachu Pokémon Cards Can You Recieve Online?
Originally, each eligible Pokémon Center × Van Gogh Museum item purchased came with a Pikachu promo card. And that meant that if you bought two items from the Pokémon x Van Gogh Museum collection, you would receive two promo cards as a gift.
However, although more items will now be eligible to get you a Van Gogh Pikachu card, fans can only receive one promo Pokémon card per order. If you’d like more than one Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat card then you’ll need to make separate orders totaling $30 and above.
When Will Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat Be Available Online?
All we know for now is that fans will get another opportunity to get the Van Gogh Pokémon card “soon.” There is no specific information on an exact release date for the promo card.
Jump to: The Permanent Pokémon x Van Gogh Collection // The Van Gogh Pikachu Promo Card // Can You Get the Van Gogh Pikachu Pokémon Card Online? // Exhibit Information // Pokémon x Van Gogh Museum Merchandise From The Pokémon Center // Every Item in the Collection // Pokémon x Van Gogh Museum Merchandise Available at the Museum // When Will the Pokémon x Van Gogh Museum Merchandise Go Live?
Other Exhibit Information: Timing and More
The Pokémon and Van Gogh Museum collaboration begins on September 28 and runs through January 7, 2024. In addition to the above, the museum will also have a ‘How to Draw Pikachu’ video-guided activity and online learning material.
What Van Gogh Pokémon Merchandise Was Available to Buy?
Of course, “The Van Gogh Museum Shop (inside the museum and online) and The Pokémon Centre online store featured an exclusive range of Pokémon x Van Gogh Museum merchandise featuring the art of the collaboration.” We expected nothing less.
Attendees of the Van Gogh Museum have shared some looks at what was initally available to purchase. However, as discussed above, it looks like items that went on sale via The Pokémon Center have sold out. We hope they will see a restock.
Here's an in-person look at the Van Gogh Pokemon merchandise including card sleeves, playmats, puzzles and more!
— Pokemon TCG Restocks & News (@PokemonRestocks) September 27, 2023
📸: @thewossy pic.twitter.com/BVwL2llHw2
A release from The Pokémon Company also noted, “The Pokémon Center online store will feature an exclusive range of ‘Pokémon x Van Gogh Museum’ merchandise featuring the art from the collaboration. Items available include a special Vincent Van Gogh inspired Pikachu Plush, Trading Card Game sleeves, Van Gogh-inspired figures of Pikachu and Eevee, Poster Prints, a Jigsaw Puzzle and more.”
But here’s a closer look at some of the items you can buy if The Pokémon Center restocks this line; we do hope we can catch ’em all!
Every Item in The Pokémon Center’s Van Gogh Collection
A full listing of every Van Gogh Pokémon item you can buy, should they be restocked, is available here. You can also see the listing in the image below.
Pokémon x Van Gogh Museum Merchandise Available at the Museum
Additional exclusive merchandise will be available at The Van Gogh Museum’s online shop, but as noted above, buying Pokémon merchandise from this site will not come with a “Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat” card. The Van Gogh Museum notes it will allow one piece per product per customer; products are subject to availability.
At one point, a “Van Gogh Giclée, Pikachu”—a “high-resolution fine art reproduction” of Pikachu was available for purchase alongside high-end prints of the Van Gogh versions of Eevee, Smeargle, Sunflora, Snorlax & Munchlax, and Corviknight & Honchkrow. However, currently, the page for “ Pokémon x Van Gogh Museum” is empty.
When Will the Pokémon Center × Van Gogh Museum Merchandise Be Available to Buy?
The first round of The Pokémon Center x Van Gogh merchandise went up on September 29. But it sold out almost immediately. As mentioned, hopefully, there will be a restock of items.
The Van Gogh Museum has not yet released timing for the online items it plans to sell.
Jump to: The Permanent Pokémon x Van Gogh Collection // The Van Gogh Pikachu Promo Card // Can You Get the Van Gogh Pikachu Pokémon Card Online? // Exhibit Information // Pokémon x Van Gogh Museum Merchandise From The Pokémon Center // Every Item in the Collection // Pokémon x Van Gogh Museum Merchandise Available at the Museum // When Will the Pokémon x Van Gogh Museum Merchandise Go Live?
More information and FAQ about this artistic meeting of the minds can be found here. We’ll see you in Amsterdam.
Originally published on September 27, 2023