FLAX art & design, the Bay Area's oldest and well-loved retail art supply business, has been serving the creative community since 1938. A family-owned business headed by Howard Flax, who represents the third generation along with his brother Craig and their sister Leslie Flax Abel, FLAX has a long history supporting artists and the Bay Area arts community. FLAX art & design, the Bay Area's oldest and well-loved retail art supply business, has been serving the creative community since 1938. Centrally located in Oakland is our flagship store, customers often say, FLAX is a "candy store for the creative".