Memphis has always been a city that makes things—music, barbecue, and art that tells the story of the South. Our local art supply stores reflect that creative spirit, serving everyone from Stax Records album cover designers to contemporary muralists painting along the Greenline. These aren't your big-box craft stores; they're places where the staff knows the difference between student-grade and artist-quality watercolors, and where you'll find supplies for screen printing band posters or restoring vintage canvas. Whether you're painting landscapes of the Mississippi River bluffs or creating mixed-media pieces inspired by Beale Street, Memphis art supply stores understand local artists' needs. They stock everything from specialized papers that hold up to our humidity to outdoor easels sturdy enough for plein air painting at Shelby Farms.
🛍️ Shopping Tip
Visit art supply stores on weekday mornings when staff have more time to discuss products—Memphis humidity affects certain materials, and local shop owners know which brands hold up best in our climate.
River City Art Supply
Where Memphis artists have shopped for three generations.
Cooper-Young
This family-owned shop on Young Avenue has been serving Memphis artists since 1967, back when Cooper-Young was still rough around the edges. They specialize in traditional fine art supplies—hand-stretched canvases, professional-grade oil paints, and brushes that last decades. The current owner, whose grandmother started the business, knows every regular customer by name and their preferred medium. Local art teachers bring their classes here for field trips, and you'll often find Memphis College of Art alumni browsing the aisles. What sets them apart is their custom framing service using reclaimed wood from old Midtown homes.
Crosstown Arts Supply Co.
Modern supplies in a historic setting.
Crosstown
Located in the renovated Sears Crosstown building, this contemporary shop caters to digital artists and traditional painters alike. They stock everything from iPad Pro styluses to Japanese watercolor brushes, plus an impressive selection of specialty papers and experimental mediums. The space doubles as a mini-gallery featuring local artists' work, and they host monthly workshops on everything from printmaking to digital illustration. Popular with younger artists and art students from the University of Memphis, they're known for staying current with new products and techniques. Their Instagram account showcases customer artwork and announces flash sales.
Beale Street Brushworks
Supplies for street artists and studio painters alike.
Downtown
Don't let the touristy location fool you—this shop on Second Street serves serious artists creating murals throughout Memphis. They carry high-quality spray paints, acrylic markers, and wheat paste supplies alongside traditional easel painting materials. The owner, a former graffiti artist turned gallery painter, understands both worlds and stocks accordingly. Local musicians often shop here for supplies to create their own album artwork, and the shop regularly sponsors community mural projects. They're one of the few places in town where you can find Montana spray paint cans and Posca markers in bulk.
Midtown Canvas & Paper
The serious painter's headquarters on Central Avenue.
Midtown
This no-nonsense shop near Overton Park focuses on quality over quantity, stocking professional-grade materials for working artists. Their canvas selection includes Belgian linen and cotton duck in sizes up to 60 inches, all pre-primed and ready to go. The paint selection emphasizes earth tones and muted colors popular with local landscape painters who frequent Shelby Farms and the Wolf River bottoms. Owner Margaret Chen, who moved here from San Francisco, brings West Coast sensibilities to Memphis art retail. She personally tests every product before stocking it and offers honest opinions about which supplies work best in our climate.
Southside Printworks Supply
Screen printing and letterpress supplies for DIY creators.
South Main
Housed in a converted warehouse near the South Main trolley line, this specialized shop serves Memphis's growing community of print artists. They stock everything needed for screen printing concert posters, letterpress wedding invitations, and relief printmaking. The space includes rental access to printing presses and screens, making it affordable for artists to create limited edition prints. Popular with band merchandise creators and wedding stationers, they also carry bookbinding supplies and specialty papers. The monthly print swap meets here draw artists from Nashville and Little Rock.
East Memphis Art Mart
Family-friendly art supplies with everything under one roof.
East Memphis
Located in a strip mall on Poplar Avenue, this spacious store serves East Memphis families, homeschool groups, and hobby artists. While they carry professional supplies, they excel at educational materials—child-safe paints, bulk construction paper, and classroom sets of basic supplies. The staff includes several retired art teachers who offer informal advice to parents buying supplies for budding young artists. They're particularly popular before school starts and during holiday craft seasons. What makes them special is their willingness to special-order unusual items and their layaway program for expensive purchases.
