For decades, Pearl Paint served as the center of the artist community in New York City. Located just south of SoHo on Canal Street, artists would flock to Pearl Paint in search of art supplies. Pearl Paint memorializes the shop’s inedible mark on the neighborhood and the artists who called it home.

 

Only a six-block walk from where he was living, Pearl Paint quickly became Albert’s art supply store of choice. Despite having to climb five flights of unairconditioned stairs until he reached the miniature art supplies section, Albert spent almost as much time at Pearl Paint as he did in his own apartment.

 

Although the New York location closed in 2014, with the final closure occurring the following August in Fort Lauderdale, Pearl Paint lives on in Albert’s memory as the creative hub that helped launch his career.