Art Central
<p>Art Central is a family-run art supply store and creative services hub located on Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Operating from the ground floor of Boutik Mall inside the Sun & Sky Tower complex, this women-led business has established itself as a comprehensive destination for artists, hobbyists, and corporate clients across the GCC region. With a 4.7-star rating on Google Maps based on 168 reviews, Art Central combines retail art supplies with professional services including pottery and ceramics equipment, custom framing, fine art printing, commissioned artworks, and hands-on workshops.</p><p>The store caters to a wide spectrum of creative needs — from a beginner picking up their first sketchbook to a seasoned ceramicist investing in a professional kiln. Art Central positions itself as a one-stop shop where customers can purchase materials, get their work framed or printed, attend a pottery session, or commission a bespoke painting for their home or office. The business also offers installment payment options through Tabby and Tamara, making larger purchases like pottery wheels and kilns more accessible, and provides fast delivery within two to three business days across the region.</p><h2>Products and Services at Art Central</h2><h3>Pottery and Ceramics Supplies</h3><p>Art Central carries an extensive range of pottery and ceramics equipment and materials, featuring products from established brands such as AMACO and Brent. The selection includes pottery wheels from Shimpo (models like the RK-3E and RK-55), Excel kilns capable of reaching Cone 10 temperatures, low-fire and mid-high-fire clays, and a wide variety of AMACO glazes and underglazes in both high-fire and low-fire formulations. Customers can find glaze additives and aids, underglazes in colors like Sea Glass, Indigo, Nectar, and Blood Orange available in two-ounce and pint sizes, as well as kiln parts and wheel parts for equipment maintenance.</p><h3>Art Materials</h3><p>The art materials section spans multiple painting mediums: acrylic colors in large one-liter containers, oil paints, watercolors, acrylic spray paints, fabric paints such as Setacolor Opaque, and resin art kits from ArtResin in eight-ounce and thirty-two-ounce sizes. Drawing and sketching supplies include pencils, pens, and markers. Surfaces range from stretched canvases and canvas boards to craft rolls. The store also stocks brushes (including the Iris Yellow Polyamide series), wooden palettes, paint cups, easels, and a dedicated kids' art section with early childhood materials and poster paints. Art craft supplies cover ceramic work, glass art, and candle-making materials.</p><h3>Printing and Framing Services</h3><p>Art Central offers museum-quality picture framing services backed by an unconditional ten-year guarantee on all frames. Their professional framing staff assists customers in selecting the right frame for personal artwork or large corporate projects. Fine art and photo printing is produced in-house using an HP DesignJet Z3200 printer, with media options including fine art paper, archival paper, glossy, luster, and matte photo paper. Retouching services are available at an additional cost to optimize prints before production.</p><h3>Fine Art and Commissioned Works</h3><p>For clients seeking original artwork, Art Central Studios produces custom, bespoke paintings for commercial, residential, and individual clients. Their commissioning service allows customers to request hand-painted artworks tailored to specific colors, sizes, and styles — including turning personal photographs into painted pieces for weddings, pets, homes, and portraits. A specialized offering includes custom Sheikh portraits honoring UAE leaders, produced in oil on canvas, charcoal on fine art paper, watercolor, or giclée limited editions.</p><h3>Corporate Art Services</h3><p>Art Central provides end-to-end corporate art solutions from concept design through delivery and installation. Their scope includes commissioning and curating artworks, wall mural design implementation, project management, printing and framing for public areas, and professional installation services. They offer multiple hanging systems including classic D-ring hanging, clip-rail systems, T-Lock secure hanging, Velcro mounting, and cable-suspended ceiling-to-floor displays. Past corporate clients include Central Bank, ADNOC, The Ladies Club, Takaful Insurance, Al Ramz, Mubadala Health, and Multiply offices, with over 100 corporate projects completed in the UAE.</p><h3>Art Workshops and Team Building</h3><p>Art Central conducts creative workshops including art camps, art studio sessions, private events, school trips, and corporate team-building activities. Team-building workshops can be customized to match company objectives and themes, accommodating groups from 10 to over 100 participants. Companies such as Mubadala Investment Company, Mubadala Petroleum, Cleveland Clinic, and Abu Dhabi World Magazine have participated in these programs. Workshop inquiries can be directed to [email protected].</p><h2>Customer Reviews and Ratings</h2><p>Art Central holds a 4.7-star rating on Google Maps with 168 reviews. Google Maps reviewers consistently highlight the store's large selection of art supplies, noting the range from sketchbooks and paints to canvases and specialty materials. One Local Guide reviewer described the shop as well-organized, stating that customers can quickly and easily find what they need. The pottery experience receives frequent praise — one reviewer who tried pottery for the first time called it a wonderful experience and noted the Shams location was easy to find. Framing services earn positive feedback as well; a customer named Martin Kubler praised the friendly service, large selection of framing options, and good quality work at reasonable prices after having multiple prints framed. Another customer, Shabanah Choudhuri, highlighted the fabulous quality of canvas and photo printing along with helpful and responsive staff. Some reviews note that the store does not carry certain professional-grade watercolor brands like Schmincke or specialty papers like Arches, which may be a consideration for advanced watercolorists seeking those specific materials.</p><h2>Art Central on Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi</h2><p>Art Central's showroom is located on the ground floor of Boutik Mall within the Sun & Sky Tower complex on Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi. The showroom operates every day from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM GST, while the office operates Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM and Saturday from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM. The store supports in-store shopping, curbside pickup, and delivery service. Al Reem Island is a growing residential and commercial community in Abu Dhabi, and Boutik Mall serves as a convenient neighborhood retail destination for residents and visitors exploring the island. The business identifies as women-led on its Google Maps profile.</p><h2>What Sets Art Central Apart</h2><p>Several attributes distinguish Art Central from other art supply retailers in the Abu Dhabi area. As a family-run, women-led business, it brings a personal approach to customer service and community engagement. The breadth of its offering is notable — few stores combine retail art supplies, professional pottery equipment, museum-quality framing with a ten-year guarantee, in-house fine art printing, commissioned artwork production, and corporate art project management under one roof. The installment payment options through Tabby and Tamara make higher-end equipment purchases more manageable, and the two-to-three-business-day delivery window adds convenience for customers who cannot visit the showroom. The corporate services division, with over 100 completed projects for major UAE institutions, demonstrates an operational capacity that extends well beyond a typical retail art supply store.</p><h2>Common Questions</h2><h3>What are Art Central's showroom hours?</h3><p>The showroom at Boutik Mall, Al Reem Island is open every day from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM GST. The office operates Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM and Saturday 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM.</p><h3>Does Art Central offer installment payment plans?</h3><p>Yes, Art Central provides buy-now-pay-later installment options through Tabby and Tamara, allowing customers to split payments for larger purchases such as pottery wheels, kilns, and bulk art supplies.</p><h3>Can I book a pottery session or workshop at Art Central?</h3><p>Art Central offers art workshops including pottery sessions, art camps, private events, and team-building activities. For workshop bookings, contact [email protected] or call +971 56 201 7970.</p><h3>Does Art Central deliver orders?</h3><p>Yes, Art Central offers delivery service within two to three business days. The store also provides curbside pickup and in-store shopping options.</p><h3>What framing guarantee does Art Central offer?</h3><p>Art Central provides an unconditional ten-year guarantee on all picture frames produced by their professional framing team.</p><h3>Does Art Central carry professional watercolor brands?</h3><p>According to customer reviews, Art Central does not currently carry certain professional-grade watercolor brands such as Schmincke or specialty papers like Arches. Contact the store directly to inquire about specific brand availability.</p><h3>How can I commission a custom artwork from Art Central?</h3><p>Art Central's commissioning service allows you to request bespoke hand-painted artworks tailored to your preferred color, size, and style. You can commission portraits from photographs, Sheikh portraits, or custom paintings for residential and commercial spaces. Contact the store via phone or email to discuss your project.</p><p>Whether you are stocking your studio with paints and canvases, investing in pottery equipment, framing a cherished photograph, or planning a corporate art project, Art Central offers a uniquely comprehensive set of creative services in Abu Dhabi. Compare Art Central with other art supply stores on Ilistify to find the best fit for your creative needs before making your decision.</p>
- Category
- Art Supply Store › Pottery & Ceramics
- Location
- Abu Dhabi Island and Internal Islands City, Abu Dhabi Emirate, AE
- Address
- Adresse: Boutik Mall, Sun & Sky Tower, Ground Floor, Al Reem Island - Abu Dhabi - Vereinigte Arabische Emirate
- Phone
- +971562017970
Tags: art supplies, pottery supplies, ceramics, custom framing, fine art printing, art workshops, abu dhabi, al reem island, amaco glazes, resin art, commissioned art, corporate art services, kids art, women-led business
