Marvegos Fine Art School

This is the third art school we’ve tried out in Fremont — and so far the best in terms of letting the kids truly have freedom to explore and express their own personalities through their art. I have two children in the same class, and I’m always happy to see how each of their pieces turns out very differently from one another’s. The prior two art schools we went too really emphasized following rules and ending up with a product similar to all the other students.

My daughter just finished a session there. She enjoyed the classes and the projects she brought home were interesting, unique, and creative. I liked a lot of what the owner, Rita, had to say in the information session we attended. Rita, when she taught my daughter’s class, was great. I appreciate that once she noticed that my daughter was having a difficult time cutting and ran out to her car to get a different pair that would be easier to use. That being said, I had some concerns. The first few weeks, my daughter had different instructors each time. They seemed to lack energy, didn’t get to know my daughter’s name, and always seemed to be scrambling to get class ready (we were the first class of the day so no excuse, in my opinion.) When class ended for the day, it always seemed super chaotic, with no real closure/​instruction, just one group trying to get out while a new group comes in. (It’s a really small space so maybe that makes it seem even more chaotic.) Often times, my daughter and I were confused about what she should do with her project and if class was even over. Perhaps a 15 minute buffer between groups would be helpful? I feel like this business might benefit from having one more staffer, someone to greet students, talk to parents/​answer phones, help end one class (ring a 5 minute bell?), and help to get kids dismissed to parents before next group comes in… I think there is some great artistic energy here, but it needs to be «managed» a bit better.

I last reviewed Marvegos in 2012 and now with both sons having been attending for several years now I must say that the quality of the place is still so wonderful. I am glad that they are continuing to thrive in Fremont and we always support them. They are the best art school around and mainly because they provide direction for the artist within each child rather than have children do THE SAME thing as everyone else. I can see not only the individual creativity of my children, but that of all the children in the art school. I love seeing what all the kids create.
I once had a school teacher tell me that she gives grades for art as S (satisfactory) with the exception of some children just having a certain skill that they’ll be engineers with such attention to detail in their art. I replied that that was an interesting assessment when I don’t see how anyone could grade art. I mean, Picasso and Harring and van Gough all have such different styles and yet if you were to compare them and grade them, how could you set any standard? Art is an expression of the creativity from within and I really am just glad the kids’ school has art because the grade is meaningless to me. But it is partially because art is graded, and not free expression that I will always send my children to Marvegos. Marvegos is exactly in line with my attitude. What I like about Marvegos is how they guide the children to confidently make the art that is THEIR OWN, and not something to please a teacher or to satisfy a grade. My children want to frame all their art. And quite frankly, it is too difficult to choose which ones to NOT frame!
Marvegos is truly a wonderful art school and our children will be there as long as possible! When the MArvegos advertises their free annual art shows (of student art) at the beginning of June each year (check their website), try to drop in for a feeling of what the artists, students, instructors, and school is like. It’s amazing.

My son has been taking classes for 3 weeks now and he is very much happy with his teacher and the work. he is learning. Located on mission blvd in a quiet shopping center I enjoy taking my son to class. happy he found a school he enjoys!

This is a great art school, especially for kids who like to do art their own way. The teachers here teach the kids the correct techniques and art terminologies and then encourage the kids to express themselves in their art with the help of different projects. The results are very authentic, unlike some other art schools where all the children’s artwork looks the same.
My older son (8) has always had trouble sitting still and in some classes, he feels very out of place, but at Marvegos, he feels very at home. He has learned a lot from the art school in 3 years. He really enjoys doing art and sketching in his spare time. They have had very interesting projects which teach the kids perspective, mixing, close-​ups, still life, etc., so every art project is exciting. And they have sculpturing, which is a top favorite with both my sons.
My younger son (5)‘s art, sometimes baffles me, but he seems to see the tiger or the robot in his art and the teachers encourage him. At least his art is a product of his own imagination, made completely by him and that is what is important!

Our children have attended during the summer for many years now. This school is wonderful. It is both so professional and so personal at the same time. Their summer camp program is superb and truly focused on high quality work (not junky kid projects. I can’t recommend them enough.

The Fremont studio is in a plaza near our martial arts studio, so it was a very easy choice to bring my boys here for art classes. I was impressed by the owner’s (Rita) orientation and her story of why Marvegos teaches art the way it does. I like that my boys are given real art materials to work with, and they learn art vocabulary along the way. The art they have produced is quite different from what I remember doing. It’s more «artistic» than «kiddie» art, and the children are all encouraged to do art their way even if they are not artistic at all!
I was also happy that my unartistic son’s drawings were praised sincerely and features I had not noticed were called to attention. The teachers were actually looking at the way he liked to express himself, not at the way art is often interpreted by adults! Yay!

it’s a very nice art studio situated in a plaza along with many other children activities centers (tutoring, ballet, Taekwondo). Its locaton makes it a perfect place for people needing to drop off more than one kids seeking different activities for different gender and age groups at the same time.
The studio itself also offer art classes for different age groups at the same time. The place has a very nice set up, children are free to explore art without worrying about the mess. The owner is a passionate artist and the teachers are very experienced working with children. We found this place via «Bay Area Parent» and I think it lives up to its reputation of being the top 3 art classes (i forgot the exact ranking) in bay area.
my girl is forced to withdraw from the class due to a change of my work schedule. but Rita the owner is nice enough to invite my girl back for one class to finish her last project. We hope to return next year as we look forward to participating in their annual art student exhibit.