Utrecht History
Six Decades of Growth, Change & Service
This year,
Utrecht proudly celebrates its 60th anniversary. From the beginning, our founders’ goals have been clear – to provide the best prices on quality products; along with helpful service from our knowledgeable staff of working artists. While our company has grown and changed, we have always held close to these principles.
Whether buying a tube of Utrecht Oil Color or a roll of Utrecht Imported Belgian Linen, artists rely on us as a resource for innovation and information, as well as all the right products. Consistent with our company’s commitment to meeting the needs of the fine art community, customers greatly value our tradition of sharing proven methods and techniques with all levels of artists from student to professional.
Utrecht’s full product assortment now includes over 15,000 items specifically selected from the most influential resources. We have a robust catalog and web business, and have grown to thirty-seven retail locations; but remain true to our roots as your local supplier.
Six decades after Norman and Harold Gulamerian started importing linens and developing revolutionary new products, the art world is a much larger and more global community. Today, the world is facing new economic and environmental issues, and Utrecht is dedicated to meeting these challenges for the artist community.
We thank you for your patronage and look forward to serving you in the future.
George J. MuenchPresident & CEO
An American Original
A Family Business is Born
After World War II, the focus of the art world shifted to New York City. Driven by artists such as Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollack, artwork became radically more abstract. As artists created a new visual language, Utrecht was there to supply materials for the new creative center of the world.
At the time, the art supply business was in its infancy, and New York painters were hungry for a new selection of products. One was Brooklyn-based painter, Norman Gulamerian, who was seeking affordable, quality linen for artist canvas. Unable to find any in the city, he and his brother Harold started buying directly from a textile plant in Belgium. An import business was started.
Their father suggested that they sell directly to studio artists and art schools. This proved to be a successful system, as young artists learned the craft of painting from established painters – echoing the tradition of apprentice and master artist.
A Utrecht mill grows in Brooklyn
The Gulamerian brothers brought a unique combination of talents. Norman learned the craft of grinding pigments and preparing canvases when he apprenticed, in 1943, with the painter Frederic Taubes. Meanwhile, Harold perfected his skills as a science undergraduate, and then as a graduate student in business. At the same time they realized the need for additional products and in the 1950’s opened a mill where Harold developed a formula for acrylic gesso. The result for painters was tremendous. Until that time, canvases were first glue sized and then primed with oil, which was a longer process. Utrecht Acrylic Gesso provided unprecedented ease to canvas preparation, saving artists valuable time and cutting costs.
Harold was a master at developing and refining formulas, and soon developed a full line of Professional Artists’ Acrylics followed by artists’ Oils and Watercolors. All were and still are manufactured in the Brooklyn mill.
Utrecht Develops & Manufactures Gesso, Acrylics & Oils
Bricks & Mortar
from Brooklyn to Manhattan and Beyond
Initially, the Gulamerians made their world-class art materials available to artists nationwide with through their catalog. Then in 1966 the brothers opened Their first store in Manhattan on Third Avenue.
Artists and students quickly discovered that they could rely on the superior quality and manufacturer direct prices of Utrecht products. They also discovered that they could depend on Utrecht stores for expert advice and knowledgeable information. Their success grew and stores were opened in Philadelphia, Washington DC and Boston, soon to be followed by Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle. Artists and student from every region discovered Utrecht, organizing road trips to the closest store in order to stock up on supplies.
In 2008 Utrecht Art Supplies opened three new locations in Carle Place, NY, Ft. Lauderdale, FL and San Francisco, CA.
Utrecht now has 37 retail locationsnationally along with numerous national and international authorized dealers.
2009 Family of Products
Today, the Utrecht brand product assortment includes over 1,200 items, in twelve categories. We are proud not only of our heritage but of our continued success in new product development. We stand by our founders’ promise to provide the highest quality art materials at an exceptional value . . . GUARANTEED!
From www.utrecht.com
“About”
A History in Fine Art Materials and Supplies
It was New York City, 1949. Unable to find quality artists’ linen on this side of the Atlantic, artist Norman Gulamerian began importing fine linen from Europe with his brother Harold. The two fledging art supplies sellers named their venture Utrecht Linens, Inc. and dedicated themselves to supplying artists with the highest quality art materials and supplies for the best value. ??The Gulamerian brothers’ artist supply business grew quickly. In 1957, they developed their revolutionary acrylic gesso for priming artist canvas. And by the end of the early 1960’s they had expanded the Utrecht line to include professional-grade artist oil paints, acrylics, and watercolor supplies, sold at manufacturer-direct prices. ??Today, Utrecht still mills its own premium artist paints and gesso at our Brooklyn, NY plant, making us unique among American artist supply companies. In addition to our own high quality products, Utrecht also offers an extensive assortment of fine art materials and supplies from the leading national brands available today. Professionals around the world choose our art supplies store for our exceptional quality, value, selection and service.