Blick Art Materials

Reviews

• KK

  Krys

  Apr 12, 2026
  5.0
  The employees were all so sweet and helpful! This location is also super cool, I never knew there was a basement before!
• TC

  Tiaotta Clairday

  Apr 4, 2026
  5.0
  This store is very artsy and has a little something for everyone when it comes to hobbies and crafts. I love all the different papers for mod podge all the tools for ceramic clay and art crafting! The odds and ends are the best part and the vibe I store is lovely too
• TE

  Tre Everette

  Mar 31, 2026
  5.0
  Always has the art supplies desired across the different levels of paining, drawing, coloring needed in my household.
• JF

  Joshua Fraser

  Mar 30, 2026
  5.0
  I like to bring drawing supplies on my trips in general, and especially to Chicago, but unfortunately forgot them on this trip. Was going to get by with just my journaling pen, a Flexion clicker .07 and my field journal, but saw that Blick Art Materials was just a mile away from my hotel. Excellent selection of drawing and drafting tools, and Celyn was extremely helpful in helping me to find just the right markers, white pen, and fountain pen to tide me over until I get home. Worth a visit just to browse the selection, but everything there is so reasonably priced, you'll have no issue finding something to take home.
• CC

  Chlochlo

  Mar 6, 2026
  5.0
  When I visited Blick Art Materials, I immediately felt a welcoming and creative atmosphere. The staff members were incredibly friendly and encouraging, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable. You can really feel that they appreciate artists and enjoy helping people find the right materials for their projects. It’s always nice when an art store has this kind of positive energy. The selection of materials is truly impressive. Whether you are a beginner starting a new hobby or a professional artist working on serious projects, you can find almost everything here. There are endless choices of paints, brushes, sketchbooks, canvases, markers, and many other tools for creative work. I especially enjoyed walking through the aisles and discovering so many different materials for painting, drawing, illustration, mixed media, and craft projects. It’s the kind of place where ideas start forming just by looking around. What makes this location even more interesting is the building itself. The store is located in a historic building from 1934 that was designed by the well-known Chicago architectural firm Graham, Anderson, Probst & White. This firm also designed major Chicago landmarks such as the Civic Opera Building and the famous Merchandise Mart, so it’s fascinating to see their work in a smaller but very distinctive building like this. Before becoming an art supply store, this building was home to the historic Old Heidelberg Restaurant, a well-known German restaurant that operated here for many years. The character of that era is still visible today in the building’s unique façade. One of the most charming features is the beautiful glockenspiel clock above the entrance. Behind the small wooden doors above the clock is a statue of King Gambrinus, a legendary European figure often known as the “king of beer.” The statue was created in 1934 by Chicago artist Edgar Miller, adding an artistic and cultural layer to the building’s history. Seeing this detail makes the storefront feel almost like a hidden piece of Chicago history. As someone who studied painting, visiting this store was especially inspiring. Having access to so many art materials inside a building that already has such artistic history makes the experience even more meaningful. If you are in Chicago and working on any creative project, this is definitely a place worth visiting.

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