About Marvegos

At Marvegos, it’s not really about us. It’s about the children and enabling them to exercise their own creativity, rather than teaching them what we know as art teachers and educators. That’s why we founded the Marvegos Fine Art School.

In 1992, Rita Young, our founder, developed the Marvegos approach out of a desire to nurture the creative spirit she saw in her own children, as well as those of her friends. Rita Young wrote a book about her teaching philosophy to share in this unique approach to inspiring children. Our students delight in their own personal discovery of form and function, always surprising us with their originality and unexpected twists. You can download “Teaching Art to Children The Marvegos Way,” the first chapter of her book, to learn more about our creative philosophy.

The first studio opened in Saratoga in 1993, followed by locations in Los Gatos, Fremont, San Ramon, San Mateo, and Redwood City. While our Fremont, San Ramon, and Redwood City studios closed during the pandemic, we are hopeful about finding new opportunities to reconnect with these communities in the future. Today, Marvegos also provides fine art programs to many outreach sites in the Bay Area and serves over a thousand students annually.

In 2020, Marvegos passed into the hands of one of its longtime instructors and leaders, ensuring that the heart of our philosophy continues to thrive while also growing to meet the needs of today’s young artists. Eva Van has been part of Marvegos since 2010, first as a teacher, then as a studio manager, marketing director, and now as owner. With a deep commitment to the Marvegos approach, she is excited to continue sharing this unique approach with Bay Area families for years to come.

It is said that organizations are only as good as the people in them. The Marvegos Fine Art School has been fortunate to have a dedicated staff of artists/instructors. All of our instructors have a BA in fine art, a strong portfolio in drawing and painting, the ability to communicate with children, deep respect for their creativity, and a belief in the Marvegos approach.