5 years ago, Grabie began with a simple belief: creativity should be accessible to everyone.

Since 2021, that idea has grown into a global creative brand, a vibrant community of artists and makers, a growing presence in more than 4,000 U.S. retail locations—including Target, Paper Source, The Container Store, and Books-A-Million—and a lasting commitment to bringing more color, confidence, comfort, and joy into everyday life.

On September 15, 2026, during National Arts Education Week, we gathered in Los Angeles to celebrate this milestone. Company leadership, artists, creators, customers, retail partners, media, and members of the local creative community came together for an evening centered around the heart of Grabie: making.

The evening was a reflection on how far we’ve come, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported our mission, and a look forward to our next chapter of creativity.

5 Years in the Making: Art Within Reach

When Grabie was founded in 2021, our vision was clear: create thoughtfully designed, high-quality art supplies at approachable price points, making creativity feel welcoming and within reach for everyone.

We believe art tools shouldn’t feel exclusive or out of reach—they should invite curiosity. You should feel empowered to pick up a watercolor set and experiment, open a coloring book after a long day, try out a new set of markers, build a scrapbook page, or share a quiet afternoon painting with your child simply for the joy of creating.

Over the past five years, our product line has expanded across watercolors, paints, markers, drawing tools, DIY kits, and craft sets. But growth for us has never been purely about numbers—it’s about reaching people who discover that creativity has a place in their lives.

Honoring Our Partners & Recommitting to Art Therapy

During the anniversary celebration in Los Angeles, Grabie CEO and Founder Mr. Lu, COO and Co-Founder Evan Li, and Director of Marketing Kallah Maguire shared their reflections on the past five years and their vision for the road ahead.

“Five years is an important milestone for Grabie, but in many ways, we feel like we’re just getting started. As we look ahead, our ambition goes beyond making great art supplies. We want to build a brand that encourages people to create more often, try new things, and discover what creativity can bring to their lives. As Grabie continues to grow around the world, we hope to create more opportunities for people to connect through creativity, explore new forms of artistic expression, and make creating a natural and rewarding part of their everyday lives.”

— Mr. Lu, CEO & Founder

“We believe creativity should feel accessible to everyone, whether you’re picking up a paintbrush for the first time or have been creating for years. As we look to the next five years, that means continuing to develop thoughtful, innovative, high-quality products while creating richer experiences for our community both online and offline. We also see tremendous opportunity to build new partnerships, reach new audiences, and create more ways for people to engage with Grabie beyond the products themselves. Our goal is to continue growing the business while creating meaningful experiences that bring greater comfort, confidence, and joy through art.”

— Evan Li, COO & Co-Founder

Renewing Our Pledge to the American Art Therapy Association (AATA)

A central highlight of the evening was Grabie’s commitment to continue its partnership with the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) for another five years. Working alongside AATA, Grabie provides art supplies to art therapists running free community courses for teens, at-risk youth, and families across the country.

This commitment builds upon the work of the Grabie Art Fund, launched in 2022. A percentage of purchases made through GrabieArt.com goes toward providing art supplies to underserved communities, children’s hospitals, underfunded school art programs, and community-based programs.

Since its launch, the Grabie Art Fund has supported thousands of participants through more than 65 organizations, including Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation. As Marketing Director Kallah Maguire noted, National Arts Education Week serves as an important reminder of how vital art programs are, and Grabie plans to expand the Art Fund’s reach into 2027 and beyond, reaching more communities and building new partnerships that further our mission of making art accessible to everyone.

An Evening Built Around Hands-On Making

The anniversary celebration was designed to bring Grabie’s creative spirit to life through experiences guests could see, touch, and take part in.

• Hands-On Crafting Stations: Guests stepped away from their daily routines to experiment with art tools and dive into creative projects of their own.
  

• Product Previews: Guests received an exclusive first look at select upcoming product lines, along with the limited-edition Grabie 5th Anniversary Keepsake Box.

• Community & Installations: Vibrant brand installations, live music, food, and refreshments created a welcoming setting for creators and members of the creative community to connect.

To us, creativity isn’t confined to a finished gallery piece. Sometimes creativity is trying a new color palette, embracing an imperfect handmade project, or sitting around a table making something together.

Looking Ahead to the Next Five Years

As Grabie enters its sixth year, supported by dedicated teams in both Los Angeles and Shanghai, we remain focused on expanding our global presence, deepening our community partnerships, and making art tools accessible to even broader communities.

As we look ahead, our goal remains simple: to make creativity more accessible, more welcoming, and more present in everyday life.

Five years behind us. A new chapter ahead.

Thank you to every artist, creator, retail partner, and customer who has been part of our story over the last five years. We look forward to creating more together in the years ahead.