Wet Paint: Minneapolis' Beloved Artist-Owned Art Supply Store

Wet Paint is one of the most beloved independent art supply stores in the American Midwest—an artist-owned institution that has served Minneapolis's vibrant creative community since 1976. Located on Lyndale Avenue South in the heart of Minneapolis's Uptown neighborhood, Wet Paint has spent nearly five decades building a reputation that extends far beyond retail: it is a community hub, a gathering place, and a genuine partner in the creative lives of the artists it serves. For Minneapolis artists, Wet Paint is not just where you buy supplies—it is where you connect with your creative community.

What distinguishes Wet Paint from conventional art supply retailers is its artist ownership. The store was founded by artists for artists, and this founding philosophy continues to shape every aspect of how the business operates—from the products it stocks to the way its staff interacts with customers to its deep, genuine engagement with the Minneapolis art community. When you shop at Wet Paint, you are supporting a business owned and operated by people who understand creative practice from lived experience, not from market research.

The Artist-Owned Difference: More Than a Business Model

Artist ownership at Wet Paint is not a marketing tagline—it is the foundational principle that determines the store's character. The owners are practicing artists who understand the daily realities of creative work: the excitement of discovering a new material, the frustration of a product that doesn't perform as expected, the financial pressures of maintaining a studio practice, and the importance of community in sustaining creative motivation over the long term.

This understanding shapes the store's product selection. Rather than stocking products based on manufacturer incentives or profit margins, Wet Paint curates its inventory based on what artists actually need and use. The owners and staff test products, evaluate their quality, and make stocking decisions informed by genuine creative experience. The result is a store where every product has been vetted by people who understand art materials from the inside—not just as retail commodities but as tools that directly affect the quality of creative work.

The artist-owned model also shapes the store's service culture. The staff at Wet Paint are not generic retail employees trained to process transactions—they are artists and creative practitioners who bring genuine expertise and personal experience to every customer interaction. When you ask for a recommendation at Wet Paint, you're getting advice from someone who has actually used the product in their own creative practice, who understands the nuances of different materials, and who can relate to the specific challenges and goals you're describing. This level of authentic expertise creates a shopping experience that feels more like a conversation between fellow artists than a retail transaction.

Professional-Grade Materials, Thoughtfully Curated

Wet Paint's inventory is focused on professional-grade and high-quality materials from respected manufacturers. The store carries a carefully curated selection of painting supplies—oils, acrylics, watercolors, gouache, and specialty paints—along with professional brushes, canvases, panels, papers, and painting mediums. Drawing materials include graphite, charcoal, colored pencils, pastels, markers, and inks from quality brands.

The store also stocks materials for printmaking, mixed media, calligraphy, and other specialized disciplines, along with studio accessories, presentation materials, and tools. The selection is deliberately curated rather than exhaustive—Wet Paint does not attempt to carry every product from every manufacturer. Instead, the store focuses on products that meet its quality standards and that serve the genuine needs of its artist customers.

This curation philosophy means that shopping at Wet Paint is efficient and trustworthy. You don't need to wade through shelves of mediocre products trying to identify the quality options—everything in the store has already been evaluated and approved by people who understand art materials. For artists who value informed curation over overwhelming choice, Wet Paint's approach is a significant advantage.

Supporting Local and Regional Makers

One of Wet Paint's most distinctive characteristics is its commitment to carrying products from Minnesota and regional makers. The store actively seeks out locally made art supplies, handcrafted tools, and artisan materials produced by makers in the Minneapolis area and the broader Midwest region. This commitment supports the local creative economy and gives customers access to unique, high-quality products that reflect the character of their community.

For artists who care about where their materials come from and who want their purchasing decisions to support local makers and small businesses, Wet Paint's emphasis on regional products aligns perfectly with their values.

A Genuine Community Hub

Wet Paint's role as a community hub for Minneapolis artists is perhaps its most important function—and the one that most clearly reflects its artist-owned identity. The store regularly hosts workshops, demonstrations, artist talks, and community events that bring creative practitioners together and provide opportunities for learning, sharing, and connection.

The store also supports local exhibitions, art organizations, and community initiatives, contributing to the vitality of the Minneapolis art scene in tangible ways. Wet Paint's community engagement is not a marketing strategy—it is an expression of the owners' genuine belief that art supply stores should be active participants in the creative communities they serve, not just vendors extracting revenue from them.

For Minneapolis artists—particularly those who work independently and may not have regular access to creative community through institutional affiliations—Wet Paint provides a valuable gathering point. The store is a place where you can encounter fellow artists, discover what others are working on, learn about local exhibitions and opportunities, and feel connected to a creative community that supports and sustains your practice.

The Minneapolis Creative Context

Wet Paint's Uptown Minneapolis location places it in one of the city's most vibrant and walkable neighborhoods, easily accessible to artists from across the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Minneapolis has a remarkably strong arts community for its size, supported by institutions like the Walker Art Center, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD), and a thriving independent gallery and studio scene.

Wet Paint has been part of this creative ecosystem for nearly five decades, adapting to serve the evolving needs of Minneapolis artists while maintaining the core values of quality, community, and artist-centered service that have defined it since its founding.

The Bottom Line

Wet Paint represents the best of what an artist-owned art supply store can be: a place where professional-grade materials are curated by people who actually use them, where the staff bring genuine creative expertise to every interaction, where local makers are supported and celebrated, and where the store functions as a true community hub for the artists it serves. For Minneapolis artists seeking quality materials, authentic expertise, and genuine creative community, Wet Paint is an essential and irreplaceable institution.