Oxford Art - in the city and on Sydney's North Shore.

Oxford Art has two retail stores located in Sydney, Australia.

Oxford Art Supplies Pty Ltd - DARLINGHURST offers an extensive range of art materials for both students and professionals, along with services such as canvas stretching and discounts for students and teachers.

Oxford Art Supplies and Books Pty Ltd - CHATSWOOD not only offers a full range of art and craft materials, but also has Sydney's largest range of art books. We keep everything from books on art technique and craft to design, photography, sculpture, contemporary art, artist's monographs, art theory, biographies and many more. Student & teacher discounts are also available.

History

Oxford Art Supplies began its days in 1964 as a hardware store in the rundown inner city suburb of Darlinghurst. Oxford Street Hardware as it was then known was run by Alf and Bessie Altshuler. It did a brisk trade in the young commercial area filled with the working class of Sydney. In 1974, the owner's son, David Altshuler, decided to expand the product range. He began by hand stretching canvases with his wife Jean on the lounge-room floor. Together they cut the wood to measure, stretched and primed the canvases ready-made-to-order for the growing artist population. Subsequently the range of art materials soon expanded to include a selection of artist and student quality paints, brushes and pencils.

Thirty-five years later Oxford Art Supplies is still serving professional artists, art students, graphic designers, advertising agencies, public and private schools and, of course, the complete beginner. Oxford Art have a reputation for discount prices and most of all the variety of art and craft materials in stock and available through special order.

Marc Altshuler, grandson of the late Alf and Bessie Altshuler is the third generation to be working in the shop. Customers of the early days do a double take when they see him saying "You must be David's son?".

Supporting the Artists

Oxford Art Supplies takes an active role in supporting the local artists and associated industries. We sponsor several art prizes in Sydney, as well as giving generous donations and grants to other worthy institutions.

Sponsored prizes and donation recipients include:

• College of Fine Arts (Univ. of NSW)
• Brett Whiteley Gallery
• Willoughby Art Centre
• Ku-ring-gai Art Centre
• NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Arts)
• Museum of Contemporary Art
• Sydney College of the Arts
• East Sydney College of Fine Art
• many individuals ....

New name for Janet's Art Supplies and Books

As many of you will already know, Oxford Art Supplies in Darlinghurst and Janet's Art Supplies in Chatswood had always had a close relationship as 'sister stores'. On July 1st, 2003, we officially changed the Janet's Art name to Oxford Art Supplies and Books Pty Ltd. We still have the same owners and the same friendly staff, and our address, phone & fax numbers and ABN have all remained the same.