What are the opening hours?

Monday 10am - 6:30pm Tuesday 10am - 6:30pm Wednesday 10am - 6:30pm Thursday 10am - 6:30pm Friday 10am - 6:30pm Saturday 10am - 6:30pm Sunday 10am - 6pm

FLAX art & design

Nearby shops

Rifas Erika

Art Supplies, Stationery, Papers, Creative Gifts and more! INTRODUCTION: FLAX art & design, the Bay Area's oldest and well-loved retail art supply business, has been serving the creative community since 1938. Centrally located in Oakland is our flagship store, and along San Francisco's north side waterfront is our Fort Mason Center store. Whichever store you choose, as customers often say, FLAX is

a "candy store for the creative". A family-owned business headed by Howard Flax, who represents the third generation along with his brother Craig and their sister Leslie Flax Abel, FLAX has a long history supporting artists and the Bay Area arts community. HISTORY: In the Great Depression, Herman and Sylvia Flax lost virtually everything. Inspired by the success of Herman's brother Sam in New York, who got his start selling art supplies out of the trunk of his car to vacationers in the Catskill Mountains, Herman took his family west from New Jersey and in 1938 with $100, opened a small art supply store in downtown San Francisco. Initially the family lived in the store's backroom, but soon they rented an apartment and converted the free space into a custom framing department. Flax's Artist Materials was born and soon rose to success, buoyed by the artists' movement that grew during WWII. Herman's other two brothers also established independent art supply businesses in Los Angeles and Chicago, and the Flax art supply presence spread to Phoenix, Orlando and Atlanta. In 1955, Herman passed away at an early age, and upon returning from military service, Herman and Sylvia's youngest son Philip took over the San Francisco business alongside his brother Jerry. The SF-based Flax brothers grew close to their customers, becoming well-known for their generous support of struggling artists and the Bay Area arts scene. Their retail store soon drew nationwide attention for its incredible breadth of products, its helpful and knowledgeable staff, and its ability to inspire creativity through inventive presentation of merchandise. As the advent of desktop publishing forever changed the dynamics of the art supply industry in the 1980s, the company ventured into mail order to broaden its market. During this time Philip's three children joined the company, Craig, Howard and Leslie, beginning a period of more than twenty years when the four family members would work together to grow the company. Today
In its 80+ years, FLAX has become an icon of creative inspiration and a Bay Area institution. Staffed by artists, designers, and musicians, the stores are visited regularly by residents and tourists alike. From established professionals and serious students to weekend dabblers and hobbyists, at FLAX you can awaken your inner Picasso with tools, supplies and gifts for every artistic passion and all age levels. We invite you to come in and let your imagination soar.

~ Voted “Best of the Bay” every year since 2001 ~

Thank you for visiting our page.

06/01/2024

Congratulations to Joni Marie! Today is the Artist’s Reception for her new exhibit at Gearbox Gallery. On thru 6/22, don’t miss it! Beautiful.

05/24/2024

Finally had a chance to visit the Sausalito Center for the Arts. Amazing space! Nice to see the arts taking stage in the small bayside town.

05/09/2024

We’ve lowered our price on watercolor! Winsor & Newton 5ml tubes are now 25% off, everyday. Because high quality paint should be for everyone. A little paint goes a long way-less than a penny per beautiful stroke.
Available at either Flax store.

04/28/2024

Loved visiting the Open House at the Headlands today. Inspiring installations!

04/24/2024

Take your oil painting to the next level with this Saturday’s Workshop! Artist and instructor Ryan Martin will demo and discuss creating color vibrancy, building up color saturation, using glazing and blending techniques, and he’ll answer any question you have.
Click link in bio to sign up!

04/15/2024

Check out our new stationery wall, with bright new colors! Envelopes and sheets, by the each, for your correspondence and creativity. At both Flax stores.

03/17/2024

In our line of work, nothing is more interesting and inspiring than being in an artist’s studio. Wonderful to see our supplies in action and with the beautiful results. .tomb, we loved our visit. Thanks!

03/05/2024

Color, it brightens our every day. This new collection will do just that!
Always associated with quality, Pantone, the creator of a universal language of color back in the 1960s, doesn’t skimp here.
The journals hold some of the best paper we’ve seen.
The sticky note towers have 1,400 sheets!
The mugs are made from fine China - no staining.
Come check it all out in either Flax store (online soon).

02/06/2024

We’re on the road and here’s the crew , the only independent art supply store remaining in Manhattan. And certainly the most knowledgeable and helpful. Support local!

12/21/2023

This artwork by Albert Kiefer was created with the new Pantone markers! We have a huge spinner display in both stores, filled with the refillable double-ended markers (pigmented and water based!), inks and pads. Step aside Copic. Come check it out!

11/19/2023

Who created this drawing of Jamie Lee Curtis for the movie Halloween? Chris Koehler! (). Come learn from him today at our Oakland store from 1-3pm. Free inking demo!

11/16/2023

This is the day. Exactly 85 years ago our bank account was opened with a $25 deposit. We discovered this deposit book (historical gem!) seven years ago while packing up Phil Flax’s office when we moved out of the Market St store.

35 Years After Its Debut, Tracy Chapman’s ‘Fast Car’ Wins a Song of the Year Award

11/09/2023

Congratulations to our friend and king time customer, Tracy Chapman. Wow!! 🎉🎉🎶

35 Years After Its Debut, Tracy Chapman’s ‘Fast Car’ Wins a Song of the Year Award She is the first Black songwriter to receive the honor from the Country Music Awards. Her 1988 hit reached a new generation of fans as a cover by Luke Combs.

10/31/2023

Filled with hundreds of sculptures made from SF Bay mud, don’t miss this art installation by Tanje Geis at Fort Mason Center. It’s at The Guardhouse, just steps from Equator Coffee. Artwork sponsored by . .t

10/13/2023

They’re back in stock! Demand for the Toyo steel boxes surprised us, but we just got a shipment and there’s another on the way! Available at either Flax store and online - click on bio.

10/05/2023

Get your SF Open Studios Guide at either Flax store! Over 300 artists will be welcoming you starting Oct 28. Support your local artists!

09/29/2023

Just installed at our Fort Mason store, a bronze plaque commemorating our status a Legacy Business. Thank you to for establishing this program! Learn more by clicking on our profile link.

09/26/2023

Having artwork in your home from friends and family is the best! These are watercolors by Joni Marie, our Oakland store manager. She has joined GearBox Gallery where her beautiful work is on display. She’s also just joined IG-follow her here!

09/10/2023

Thanks for making our 85th year celebration so special! To our community-customers, vendors, amazing employees-we wouldn’t still be here without your support and we are grateful.
Cheers,
Howard, Leslie, Craig, Philip and Toby

09/05/2023

85 years ago this woman, Sylvia Flax, founded our company with her husband Herman.
You’re invited to our anniversary celebration! Join us as we say thank you to our customers and community. Door prizes, art demos, music by MissT, champagne and snacks. Saturday, 9/9, noon-3pm.

09/01/2023

You’re invited! Join us as we say thank you to our customers and community. Door prizes, art demos, music by MissT, champagne and snacks. Saturday, 9/9, noon-3pm.

07/06/2023

They’re here! Come personalize your notebooks and journals with these special stamps from Traveler’s. On through Tuesday, then the stamps head down to .

06/30/2023

Today and tomorrow you get to try what many say is the best acrylic paint in the world. 1-3pm in our Oakland store, let wow you with his insights into the 57 incredible colors.

06/18/2023

On the road for Father’s Day. Lots to do, eat, drink, hear and see (murals everywhere!) in Denver.

06/05/2023

Don’t miss these great new murals at Fort Mason Center! In the lobby of Bldg C right across the parking lot from our store, they are the product of the Decorative Painters Salon. One depicts the beauty of the natural area we know, and the other is a gilded ornamental pattern evoking the Gold Rush.

05/11/2023

Visit artists all over the East Bay, including 3 exhibiting in our Oakland store! This is the time to support local artists, and perhaps, beautify your home with art at a price direct from the source!
Come see , and at

03/30/2023

A rainbow. The simple union of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Whether in the sky, used as a symbol or whatever, it’s beautiful.

03/28/2023

1938-2023, this year we are celebrating our 85th year supporting Bay Area artists. This is our first store, at 437 Kearny St in SF.

03/12/2023

We’re on the road in Oaxaca, where the printmaking scene is insane! Here are a few paste ups, a local artist’s mural.

02/17/2023

Interested in watercolor? These new workshops will answer all your questions. Thanks to , coming in March. These workshops fill to capacity quickly, so sign up today! people shop

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Our Story

INTRODUCTION: FLAX art & design, the Bay Area's most well-loved retail art supply business, has been serving the creative community since 1938. Our stores are conveniently located in Downtown Oakland, and along San Francisco's north side waterfront at the Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture. Whichever location you choose, as customers often say, FLAX is a "candy store for the creative".

A family-owned business headed by Howard Flax, who represents the third generation along with his sister Leslie Flax Abel and their brother, Craig Flax, FLAX has a long history supporting artists and the Bay Area arts community.

HISTORY: In the Great Depression, Herman and Sylvia Flax lost virtually everything. Inspired by the success of Herman's brother Sam in New York, who got his start selling art supplies out of the trunk of his car to vacationers in the Catskill Mountains, Herman took his family west from New Jersey and in 1938 with $100, opened a small art supply store in downtown San Francisco. Initially the family lived in the store's backroom, but soon they rented an apartment and converted the free space into a custom framing department. Flax's Artist Materials was born and soon rose to success, buoyed by the artists' movement that grew during WWII. Herman's other two brothers also established independent art supply businesses in Los Angeles and Chicago, and the Flax art supply presence spread to Phoenix, Orlando and Atlanta. In 1955, Herman passed away at an early age, and upon returning from military service, Herman and Sylvia's youngest son Philip took over the San Francisco business alongside his brother Jerry.

The SF-based Flax brothers grew close to their customers, becoming well-known for their generous support of struggling artists and the Bay Area arts scene. Their retail store soon drew nationwide attention for its incredible breadth of products, its helpful and knowledgeable staff, and its ability to inspire creativity through inventive presentation of merchandise.

As the advent of desktop publishing forever changed the dynamics of the art supply industry in the 1980s, the company ventured into mail order to broaden its market. During this time Philip's three children joined the company, Howard, Leslie and Craig, beginning a period of more than twenty years when the four family members would work together to grow the company.

Today
In its 80+ years, FLAX has become an icon of creative inspiration and a Bay Area institution. Staffed by artists, designers, and musicians, the stores are visited regularly by residents and tourists alike. From established professionals and serious students to weekend dabblers and hobbyists, at FLAX you can awaken your inner Picasso with tools, supplies and gifts for every artistic passion and all age levels. We invite you to come in and let your imagination soar.

~ Voted “Best of the Bay” every year since 2001 ~

Thank you for visiting our page.

The Flax Family