Whenever I'm traveling and I run across an art store, I try to stop in. I know Flax as an art supply store, from living on both coasts, so I was surprised that this location only does framing. The owner greeted me and we chatted about the art supply business and how he came to concentrate only on framing. And the framing that was displayed there was beautiful. I've paid a ton to frame fine art photography and also done it myself. Either way, it takes expertise to get it right and make it look good. read more

My go-to frame shop closed during the pandemic, so I had to find a new one. Although nervous about going somewhere new, I was VERY pleased with my experience with Flax Art & Frame. I had gotten a print for my sister that I wanted framed, and I had a general idea of what I wanted the frame and matting to look like. The associate working with me was super patient and helpful until the end result matched what I had imagined. The price was slightly high, but I felt the quality was worth it. Also...insider tip...if you check in on Yelp, you get a discount. I'll definitely use them again when I need custom framing. read more

Flax Art & Frame - Framing Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great frame selection, knowledgeable and helpful owner and staff. Certified frame builders who are enthusiastic about creating beautiful finishes for your art/ mementos. Great local business. Highly recommend read more

Can't say enough good things about all the staff and their impeccable service . I had a silk rug that I had bought from Istanbul . It was quite large and complex colors . Dana went out of her way to find me the right background and the right frame . It took longer than expected because she was so particular about getting it exactly right . I think she was more excited about the project than I was . Such a pleasure work with a perfectionist. Dana and Kelly came to my condo to hang up the end product . Once again , they worked patiently and precisely until they got it just right . Would highly recommend Flax Art to everyone. read more

Flax Art & Frame - Framing Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The Flax framer treated my daughter's high school project as if it was a masterpiece - worthy of emphasizing certain artistic elements and colors that were unique, and finding the perfect frame that treasures her talent and effort. AND YET the pricing was extremely reasonable - it is a high schooler's artwork after all! Thank you, Flax! read more

I brought a piece of art to Flax that was rolled up, unfortunately paper has memory so it was very difficult to mat it down perfectly. Brian and team tireless explained the whole framing process and provided different methods of mating several times till I was completely satisfied with their frame work. They went totally above and beyond with their customer service. Don't hesitate to bring your beloved pieces to them, they will cater to your needs and do a superb job with the framing. Thanks again Brian and Kelly! read more

Flax Art & Frame - Framing Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I took a rolled-up page of Tibetan calligraphy on dried mulberry bark to Flax for mounting. To avoid cracking, Flax unrolled it with weights on a heated platform over a four week period. Then Flax mounted it with thread (no tape) in a two sided frame. This task requires high-level professional expertise, above the level of most framers. I was expecting this work to be expensive. It was indeed costly, but still half the cost that I was expecting from my experience with other framers. I left choice of frame color, etc to Flax. The result is simply beautiful beyond my expectation. read more

These guys are AMAZING. Period. Except there's more! Background: Bought a street painting in Cannes for 200 Euros. But no place to ship it from. Take 300 Euro RT cab ride to closest FedEx in Antibes; all they have is a tube. No boxes. Strip canvas from frame, pack carefully in tube, check as luggage home. Numerous countries, three weeks and two missing baggage reports later... my painting made its way to my doorstep in the states, and needless to say, said tube was not in great condition. Nor was my beautiful painting. BUT. I took it to Flax. Just over two weeks later... I have an absolutely PERFECT painting. Creases are gone. Framing is perfect. You would NEVER know it had been abused by baggage handlers across the globe. It actually looks tighter and cleaner now that it did when I first purchased it on the Croisette. I am SO impressed. This is going to look SO terrific in my house, and it's all thanks to Flax and their magic! Julie was lovely and *clearly* she knows what she's doing. Would HIGHLY recommend. I will definitely be going back! read more

Flax Art & Frame - Before: This (barely) survived a 3 week misdirected baggage check through 4 countries. After: You'd never know it had been damaged. - Framing Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Second time visiting this small business on Saturday, shop small business day, Flax Art & Frame. It was quick,easy and professional. I had the measurements for a cross stitch piece and I finally found time to frame it. It's the little things that make me grateful! read more

I found Dana and the great team at Flax Art & Frame when I was searching for a creative place to frame my 86 year old father's boyhood trumpet and awards. I was looking for something very special, knowing how much his trumpet (which was also his father's) meant to him. Boy did I find it. Dana was as excited as I was to create something awesome and unique. She is extremely creative and has amazing vision. Dana built a beautiful high-end framed shadow box that includes the trumpet, medals, and other pieces of memorabilia from the case. The back of the shadow box contains the dates of each of the medals in the case. It is simply superb in every way and I can't wait to surprise my father with it on Father's Day. I highly recommend Flax Art and Frame and Dana for any special framing project. read more

Flax Art & Frame - Trumpet shadow box - Framing Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

SAVE YOUR FINE ART FROM DISASTER AND BRING IT ALL TO FLAX My wife and I didn't go to FLAX first: we made the mistake of trusting another very professional-looking frame shop in the Loop which, despite their overtures of experience and only after we paid and gave them our pieces, turned out to be incapable of dealing with fine art. The other shop not only couldn't stretch the canvas well but also used inferior, damaging materials and permanently damaged our EXTREMELY valuable paintings in the process of framing them! Brian Flax of FLAX in the loop was more than an unpretentious expert framer- he was a godsend. Obviously we were skeptical of anyone after our first experience at the other shop, but Brian quickly laid our concerns to rest. Not only did he and his capable framers fix the mistakes of the frame job the other shop made- visible (such as smeared putty, stretch job, crookedness) and invisible, preventative mistakes (like wood and nail types to prevent long term corrosion), but he was extremely friendly and helpful, unassuming and educational without being condescending, and he even documented the damages the other shop had made as a favor to us and our attorney. Price: FLAX is well regarded in the loop and comes highly recommended. Considering my situation and their expertise I was compromised- he had me over a barrel. But while I was admittedly nervous about their pricing, it was better than I ever would have imagined. The same or less than the other shop even though at the other shop we had used a YELP coupon of 20% off. Considering their capabilities and expertise, FLAX is an absolute steal. Looking at their work which shows such immaculate attention to detail, and thinking back on our conversations revealing Brian and Dana's expertise, they are clearly an upper-echelon framer representing the pinnacle of the industry. FLAX has earned our lifelong trust and Brian's business card goes in a very small stack of unquestioned go-to businesses I don't ever have to think twice about. Thank you team FLAX, we will remember you forever as we admire our artwork. read more

A great little frame shop tucked into a small space in the Loop. Owners are great, I had to get an award framed and they just handled it, and delivered it back. Top notch, and great owners too, very friendly!! read more

The most helpful group of people to work with for framing those every day and unique items. I have used this business several times over the last few years to frame a variety of items and very time they exceed my expectations. They are creative in their approach to collaborating with you to achieve what you are looking for in each and every piece. Excellent customer service and solid advice every time. read more

We are so very impressed by the level of professionalism and knowledge of the people at Flax Art. My wife recently broke/cracked the frame on a family heirloom Warhol of her Uncle, we were crushed. We went to another frame shop and they told us the type of gallery style framing could not be done (at least not at their establishment). Fortunately we found Brian at Flax and he set our minds at ease- he used his resources and completely replicated a frame and restored our piece to its former glory. Whew! (and BRAVO!) We were updated via email on the progress of the project and were returned the original framing, showing a level of sensitivity and a nod to our sentiment- it was much appreciated. Will be back for any and all framing needs. read more

I stopped in Flax Art & Frame to have a portrait framed for my mom for mother's day. Mr. Flax was extremely pleasant, professional and helpful. He took his time to speak with us about our options and made helpful suggestions as to what might be best to achieve our desired result. Mr. Flax provides personable customer service that just can't be found in today's world of big box retailers. I am very happy with the quality of the product and will undoubtedly be a repeat customer. read more

Mr. Flax (yes its named after the owner) runs a nice place here: great frame store for custom and pre-made frames. A small business feel within the confines of the loop high-rises. I came for the Groupon but ended up spending much more as I came with my diplomas, which I finally felt like I could afford to frame. I was reassured by the professionalism, time and care in taking the order, and their ability to adjust the size and quality by what I was willing to pay. Took a couple weeks, but the product was top notch, now hanging in my redecorated office. You will pay the price for quality but if quality is what you want, this seems to be the place in town. read more

The service here is the difference. This was my first experience with a custom framing shop and they guided me through the whole process and provided many options and expert opinions. The shop is in a weird little area, but I assure you it is worth going down there. I have also stopped by for hanging hooks and they helped me pick the right ones for my needs. This is a local little shop that values their customers. Ask for a discount when framing multiple items! I got 10% off my second framing job. read more

We came here with a Groupon to have a poster framed and they did a really wonderful job. The framing order was much more expensive than we budgeted for, however we did opt for good quality glass, a walnut frame and some beautiful matting so I do think it was worth the price as we we have this in our home for a long time. My only complaint is that we were given an estimated completion date and were told they'd call us when it was completed. Almost 2 weeks after that date we had heard nothing and when I called they told me that there was a measurement issue so they had to redo some things and it would be ready within a week. That's fine, but I wish they would have proactively called to let me know that so that we weren't just sitting around wondering. It was still another week and a half before it was completed. read more

Simply put - this place is great! They will always be my framers - even if I leave Chicago. I'll make it work! I stopped in here years ago when I lived in the loop to have a painting framed that was painted by my partner's grandmother in 1928. Brian Flax helped me then and the experience was fantastic. I referred a few friends to Brian after that, but didn't need anything else framed for a while. In December, 2014, my partner's mother passed away - as we were processing through her things, we found several different types of things that we wanted framed (old post cards, another painting from grandma, items from a once-owned bakery, and a series of small cards from the 1920s). I took the items to the shop - walked in one afternoon (making a special trip downtown and taking time off work as I no longer live in the loop). Without a thought, Brian spent the time it took to make sure we designed the perfect setting for each piece. I took about 2.5 hours of his time and he didn't even seem to think twice about it. He's not afraid to tell you when something doesn't look good, in a very nice way! - and he has a great sense of color and design. He called me a few weeks later as they were beginning to work on the projects. The bird cards were a series of 30 and numbered 1-30 (we were putting into 3 frames, 10 per frame). Apparently the first card was missing (showing my attention to detail - I had no idea!). We didn't notice the day I placed the order either. He called to let me know that he had found the same set of cards on ebay, ordered them, and inserted the #1 card into the project. That's pretty amazing service. I will always tell that story every time people look at the birds (and they look AMAZING!). For pieces that you want to look perfect and plan to keep in your life for a long time - take them to Flax. I already have a few more projects to bring down to Brian and his team! read more

Flax Art & Frame has framed seven pieces for me, including a really challenging 5' x 7' painting (which they later hung). They are sensational. They're extremely professional, do quality work, and have excellent taste. If you have good art, bring it here. Do triple check the expected delivery or completion date--I had one mix-up when I thought they were confirming a deadline, but they were confirming a "it'll be ready roughly then" date. They are expensive, but you may be able to get a discount if you bring in multiple pieces at once. read more

Went in today to purchase a couple basic frames and the service was nothing short of amazing! Will not shop anywhere else for frames!

Flax did an amazing job with our art! All our pieces go to Flax for framing!

I used FLAX before and I will defiantly use them again. The price of service is reasonable and compatible with other frame shops but customer service is outstanding. Dana was very patient with me and we tried many different combinations of framing and matting until I was happy with my choice. She has some great ideas and recommendations. Today I picked up my art work and framing and matting is impeccable. The way how FLAX employees taking care of customers is make them best in business. read more

I had a great experience with the knowledgeable, patient and honest staff at Flax Art & Frame. They quoted a job I was doing for work every which way possible and were happy to give me all the options available. Very professional! They have some really cool frame types and ideas. Definitely recommend. read more

I found these guys online (I live in Colorado, far far away from their brick and mortar shop) and spent a good hour on the phone with the owner, Brian Flax, who did a spectacular job trying to find the right kind of matboard for my project. Without me being able to see any samples, he was able to find the PERFECT material and was incredibly helpful, patient and courteous. I wish I lived closer to this place just so I could give them more of my business more often! Thank you Flax Art and Frame for your superb customer service and excellent quality products! read more

Flax Art and Frame are fantastic! I work for a design company and we needed a very specific product for a project. Brian and staff were able to find and order the product as well as have it cut to the exact size we needed. That is not where the AMAZING CUSTOMER SERVICE ends...our project deadline was on January 31st, the second coldest day of the year. Brian, like many schools and local businesses decided to remain closed for the day. Brian knew this project was really important so he contacted us in the morning and made arrangement to meet us at his store!!! He opened just for us. Its not often that you find a business that takes customer service so seriously. Thank you Brian and Flax Art and Frame. You went above and beyond and we couldn't be more grateful. read more

I used Flax for my framing needs once again and they exceeded my very high expectations. They are superb at what they do. Great advice, great service and great attention to detail. Really, they are simply the best. read more

I want to give Flax 5 stars for excellent service! Last week I was in Flax to request to cut mats for my artwork at the last minute and Dana helped me asap. As always, Excellent Job!!! Every time I am in Flax, Brian, Dana and Julie are super at customer service. Thank You read more

Brian and Dana were so helpful! They guided me in designing a beautiful piece that I gave as a bridal shower gift. Highly recommend this wonderful frame shop in the loop! read more

Forget the consumption rule of today's world: in this place, the quality goes first! The owners of the place place know what they are doing. They are professional, enthusiastic, and gives really good advice. Standard size frames, or custom size are equally nicely made. I went there twice already, and recommend it to several friends who were also highly satisfied. Prices for standard sizes are as everywhere else, custom made will be more expensive, but the quality stays. This is THE place to go get your frames from. read more

I was in there last week to buy a frame, although they had what I needed and it was convenieint to go at lunch, the lady helping me was not very courteous and seemed dissapointed that I didn't need her to handle my framing. If i treated my customers that way I wouldn't have any. Next time I will go to Michaels. read more

I went in today with a simple project - to frame a large, square photo. The service and price were both outstanding.

Truly as good as it gets. You can buy a simple poster and get it framed here or bring in anything from a masterpiece to a family photo and you will get personal guidance and professional delivery. We have worked with Dana for years and she has helped us with projects for our offices and our home and have been delighted every time. She has a great design eye and then she builds the frame and mats it perfectly. The highest recommendation! read more

I don't ever write reviews, but I had to write something about this place. I showed up here a few weeks ago with a very large, very old print on canvas that I wanted to have stretched. I was expecting to spend about $300 -- that's how large this canvas was. After taking a look at it, the two women who were helping me decided that it would be better to dry mount the canvas (glue the canvas to a piece of foam board) rather than stretch it. That would make it lighter and also the job would be much cheaper, they told me. And the print would look better because the canvas had aged and would likely crack if stretched. The total came to just $76. I respect an establishment that will suggest a less expensive option to a customer who is already to prepared to pay for a much higher priced service. And it was the right call, too. The piece looks fantastic. These people think of everything and have great attention to detail. They mounted black paper to the back to keep the print from bowing (this is apparently an issue for pieces that are so large). And when I picked it up, it was wrapped carefully in paper, with cardboard bumpers on the corners and a cardboard cover. I would recommend this place to anyone who has a piece of art that they really care about. Parking in the area is a pain, but it's well worth it. read more

I am from out of town and was in need of something framed in a hurry. Brian worked to get it done the same day. Professional services with a friendly touch. I highly recommend this store to anyone. Thanks again Brain! read more

If you need it done professionally, if you have a high standards - give it to Flax!!! I purchased a drawing in China and it was damaged during shipping back to US. I took it to Flax with high hopes and they exceed my expectations. The customer service was excellent. They spend a good amount of time to discuss with me every little detail of the project and when I got my art back you could barely see damage. The quality of craftsmanship is excellent and the price was reasonable. I used many different places in the past but I had a best experience with Flax. They will have all my future projects. read more

The needlepoint that I took to Flax needed to be blocked prior to framing. I knew that this piece would require an expert. I was lucky via Groupon to find Brian and his staff. Even though they were a bit late than indicated, it was well worth the wait. My needlepoint is lovely. read more

Flax Art & Frame is second to none in Chicago. Nice staff, exceptional quality work, and good prices. I had a canvas re-stretched here, the price was quite reasonable, they found a useful provenance document for me, and the turn around time was only a couple of weeks. I have used other framers in Chicago, but Flax is a true gem. read more

This is the second time I have used Flax for a framing project. The first was a few years ago for a bunch of sports memorabilia. Flax did a great job to understand what I needed, and helped me get it done within my budget. This second time, I needed my academic and professional certificates framed. Again, they were incredibly helpful in putting together exactly what I had envisioned. The final product was a little over my budget, but that was completely my doing. They were happy to find something within my initial budget, but when I started asking about additional options they explained that those details would increase the price. They didn't rush me, and took the time to compare quotes. I was fine with the additions because the final product would be exactly what I had wanted. It was definitely worth it, and I'd still say the price was quite reasonable. Everything turned out great. Thank you, Flax! You are my go-to framers. read more

Dana and Brian went out of their way to help me. Like others here have said, they are professional, attentive, knowledgeable, and extremely helpful. They helped me frame two large photos. I can't say enough about what a positive experience this was for me. They made sure I got exactly what I wanted, what suited the photos, and at a price that was still within my budget. I got to the store about 10 minutes after they had closed, but they still let me in, unwrapped the art so I could approve it, wrapped it back up, packaged everything for me with instructions and extra hanging tools -- and I never felt like they were rushing me out of the store, even though they had every right to. After my experience with Dana and Brian, I'll have all my framing done here from now on. read more