MICA Store in Baltimore: Artist Supplies at Art School Prices
The MICA Store occupies the ground floor of the Maryland Institute College of Art's main campus on Mount Royal Avenue and functions as a full-service art supply retailer open to the public, not just to students. The inventory runs deep in drawing, painting, printmaking, and digital media materials, with significant sections devoted to specialty items like screen-printing inks, relief blocks, and archival papers that most chain retailers do not stock consistently.
What the MICA Store actually is
This is a non-profit retail operation run by the college to support its curriculum while generating modest revenue for the institution. The store sits in a walkable neighborhood near other arts organizations, including the Walters Art Museum six blocks south and the BMA (Baltimore Museum of Art) one mile north. The selection reflects MICA's academic priorities: expect professional-grade supplies rather than student-beginner kits, and expect prices that undercut major chains on items the college buys in bulk. The space is modest—roughly 2,000 square feet—but organized by material type rather than by brand, which speeds browsing if you know what you need.
Stock, pricing, and how it compares locally
Acrylic paint at MICA Store runs $6 to $12 per tube depending on brand and size, against $7 to $14 at Blick Art Materials locations outside Baltimore. Gouache, a less common find in retail chains, stocks three to four brands including Winsor & Newton and Holbein, priced $8 to $15 per tube. Arches watercolor paper (140 lb cold-press, 10-sheet pad) costs $32 here versus $38 at Blick; Sennelier oil pastels are $2.50 each versus $3 to $4 elsewhere. Markup is consistent with a nonprofit model: modest enough that regulars notice, not so aggressive that the store competes on price alone.
The printmaking section distinguishes this store. Relief blocks, linocut tools, and Speedball inks occupy dedicated shelves. Etching grounds, copper plates, and press supplies are harder to find in single-location Baltimore retailers; you would otherwise order from specialty distributors or make the drive to Blick's Tysons Corner, Virginia location. Sketchbooks and notepads lean toward premium brands (Moleskine, Rhodia, Strathmore) rather than commodity options.
Digital media supplies are present but narrow: Wacom tablets, styluses, and some drawing software, but not the breadth of a Best Buy. MICA does not stock fabrication tools, kilns, or large-format equipment.
Canvas and canvas boards are available in common sizes at standard art-store pricing. Stretcher bars, primer, and gesso round out the painting prep section. Specialty papers include some Japanese and handmade options that appeal to printmakers and mixed-media artists; a 10-sheet pad of 140 lb Saunders Waterford costs $28 to $30, on par with online retailers for in-person availability.
Who suits this store and who does not
This store works best for Baltimore-based artists, MICA students and alumni, and people doing serious practice in drawing, painting, or printmaking. If you know your materials and want to avoid shipping delays, the modest price advantage and specialty stock justify a visit. If you are a casual crafter, a parent buying supplies for a school project, or someone learning to draw from YouTube tutorials, a big-box chain or general art site online will offer more choice in beginner-level items and often lower prices on commodity acrylic and watercolor sets.
Professional restorers and conservators will find some but not all specialized materials here; those customers often work with regional suppliers or order directly from manufacturers. Jewelry makers, woodworkers, and sculptors should verify stock before the trip, as equipment leans toward the flat and two-dimensional.
What a first visit involves
Enter from Mount Royal Avenue into a well-lit retail space. Supplies are organized by medium along the perimeter and in island displays. Staff are knowledgeable but often outnumbered on weekday afternoons and Saturday mornings when MICA classes change periods. No appointment is needed. The register is near the front. Browsing without buying is routine. If you need a recommendation, ask; staff can usually tell you what local artists and students favor. MICA maintains a bulletin board with local art event postings and job listings.
Hours, location, and logistics
MICA Store operates Monday through Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed Sundays. The address is 1301 Mount Royal Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21217. Street parking is available on Mount Royal and surrounding blocks but competitive during school hours. No dedicated lot. The location is accessible by the MTA Red Line (North Avenue stop, 0.3 miles north) and multiple bus routes on Mount Royal.
MICA Store fills a practical gap in Baltimore's art supply landscape by stocking professional materials at nonprofit margins and carrying items that national chains treat as specialty orders.
