Curry's Art Supplies: Canada's Premier Art Supply Retailer Since 1911

Curry's Art Supplies is Canada's oldest and most established art supply retailer, with a heritage stretching back to 1911 when the company first opened its doors in Toronto, Ontario. Over more than 115 years, Curry's has grown from a single storefront into a multi-location chain serving artists, students, educators, and creative professionals across Canada, earning its position as the country's most trusted destination for professional-grade art materials. In a nation with a rich and distinctive artistic tradition—from the Group of Seven's landscape paintings to the vibrant contemporary art scenes of Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver—Curry's has been a constant presence, supporting Canadian artists through every era and movement.

What distinguishes Curry's from international competitors and general craft retailers is its deep integration with the Canadian art community. This is not a foreign chain that happens to operate in Canada—it is a Canadian institution, built by and for Canadian artists, with an understanding of Canadian art culture, Canadian educational systems, and the specific needs of artists working in Canada's diverse climates and creative traditions.

Over a Century of Canadian Art Heritage

Curry's longevity is itself a testament to the company's values and quality. Surviving and thriving for over 115 years in the competitive retail landscape requires more than just selling products—it requires building genuine relationships with customers, maintaining consistent quality standards, adapting to changing needs, and earning the trust of successive generations of artists. Curry's has accomplished all of this while remaining true to its core mission of serving the Canadian art community.

The company has witnessed and supported the evolution of Canadian art from the early twentieth century through the present day. Curry's has supplied materials to generations of Canadian artists, from students at OCAD University and Emily Carr University of Art + Design to established professionals exhibiting in galleries across the country and internationally. This historical continuity gives Curry's a depth of institutional knowledge about Canadian art and artists that no newcomer to the market can replicate.

Curry's also actively carries and promotes Canadian-made art supplies, supporting domestic manufacturers and ensuring that Canadian artists have access to products made in their own country. This commitment to Canadian products reflects the company's understanding that supporting the broader Canadian creative economy—not just individual artists—is part of its role as a national art supply institution.

Professional-Grade Materials for Serious Artists

Curry's inventory is focused on professional-grade and high-quality materials from both international and Canadian manufacturers. The stores carry comprehensive selections of painting supplies—oils, acrylics, watercolors, gouache, and specialty paints—from brands that professional artists trust for consistency, pigment quality, and archival permanence. The drawing materials section includes graphite, charcoal, colored pencils, pastels, markers, and technical pens from leading manufacturers.

The selection extends to brushes, canvases, panels, papers, printmaking supplies, sculpture materials, mediums, varnishes, and studio accessories. Curry's curation philosophy emphasizes quality and reliability: the stores stock products that have proven their value to working artists, avoiding the trap of filling shelves with cheap alternatives that may attract budget shoppers but ultimately disappoint serious practitioners.

The staff at Curry's locations are knowledgeable art materials professionals, many of whom are practicing artists or have extensive backgrounds in art education. They can discuss the technical properties of different materials with genuine understanding, recommend products suited for specific techniques and applications, and help artists make informed decisions about where to invest their materials budget. This expertise is particularly valuable for artists exploring new media or techniques, where the wrong material choice can lead to frustration and wasted time.

A Strong Commitment to Art Students and Educators

Curry's has built an especially strong reputation among Canadian art students and educators. The stores offer student discounts with valid student identification, making professional-quality materials more accessible to learners who are developing their skills and building their supply collections on limited budgets. The staff understand the specific needs of students—they can recommend cost-effective options that deliver genuine quality without suggesting inferior products that would compromise a student's learning experience.

The company also maintains relationships with art schools, universities, and educational institutions across Canada, offering institutional pricing, bulk supply programs, and educational support. Many Canadian art educators rely on Curry's as their primary source for classroom materials, knowing that the company understands educational budgets and can provide quality supplies at fair prices.

Curry's approach to serving students reflects a long-term perspective: today's students are tomorrow's professional artists, and helping them develop their skills with quality materials builds lifelong relationships and strengthens the Canadian art community as a whole. The staff are genuinely invested in helping students progress, offering guidance on building supply collections progressively—starting with essentials and expanding as skills develop and budgets allow.

Nationwide Presence with Consistent Quality

With locations across multiple Canadian cities, Curry's provides convenient access for artists throughout the country. Whether you're shopping in Toronto, visiting a location in another province, or ordering through the company's online store, you can expect the same professional standards, product quality, and knowledgeable service that have defined Curry's for over a century.

This nationwide presence is particularly valuable in Canada, where the geographic distances between major cities can make accessing specialty art supplies challenging. Curry's multi-location network and online capabilities ensure that Canadian artists in different regions have reliable access to professional materials without needing to rely solely on international online retailers or general craft stores that lack the depth and expertise of a dedicated art supply specialist.

Community Engagement and Cultural Contribution

Curry's actively participates in the Canadian art ecosystem beyond retail. The stores host workshops, demonstrations, and community events that bring artists together and provide educational opportunities. The company supports local exhibitions, art organizations, and cultural initiatives, contributing to the vitality of the Canadian art scene in tangible ways.

This community engagement is not peripheral to Curry's business—it is central to the company's identity and its understanding of its role in Canadian culture. By supporting artists, educators, students, and institutions, Curry's invests in the creative infrastructure that sustains both its business and the broader Canadian art community. For artists who want their purchasing decisions to support a company that actively contributes to Canadian art and culture, Curry's represents an alignment of values and commerce that is increasingly rare in retail.

The Bottom Line

Curry's Art Supplies is more than a retailer—it is a Canadian cultural institution with over 115 years of heritage serving the country's artistic community. The company's combination of professional-grade materials, knowledgeable staff, strong student support, nationwide accessibility, and deep community engagement makes it the definitive art supply destination for Canadian artists. For anyone in Canada seeking quality materials, expert guidance, and a retailer that genuinely understands and supports Canadian art, Curry's is an essential and irreplaceable resource.