Established as a mail order business by Dick Blick in 1911 and purchased by Robert Metzenberg in 1947, it is one of the oldest and largest art materials suppliers in the United States, as well as a primary supplier of mail order art supplies.

One of the primary suppliers of art supplies in the United States, Blick Art Materials offers over 90,000 products, including 8,000 sold under the Blick brand name, such as paints, brushes, canvas, artist papers, pastels, pencils, and markers.

Blick's Utrecht brand products include handcrafted paints, mediums, and brushes.

[5] Metzenberg expanded the company, opening mail order offices in Las Vegas, Nevada; Hartford, Connecticut; and Allentown, Pennsylvania.

[4] He also established retail outlets in Las Vegas, Allentown, and Dearborn, Michigan.