about us
where creativity is honored, relationships are centered, and childhood is taken seriously.
At SQUAD Art Studio, we believe art is not something children produce — it is something they live. It is a way of thinking, feeling, wondering, and making sense of the world. Our studio exists to protect that way of being.
We create inviting, materials‑rich spaces where young children (ages 0–8) and the adults who love them can slow down, experiment, and discover what happens when process matters more than product.
our purpose
SQUAD Art Studio supports children, caregivers, and educators in building meaningful creative relationships through process‑based art experiences. We partner with families, schools, artists, and communities to make creativity accessible, joyful, and deeply human.
our story
SQUAD Art Studio was founded in 2017 from a simple but powerful belief: when children are trusted with real materials, ample time, and genuine respect, they show us what learning can be.
What began as a small, carefully curated art environment has grown into a vibrant studio and community hub — a place where children’s ideas are taken seriously, where caregivers are welcomed as co‑learners, and where creativity is understood as a shared language.
Inspired by Reggio Emilia and Montessori philosophies, our work centers curiosity, relationship, and reflection. We honor children as capable meaning‑makers and view art as a practice of inquiry rather than instruction.
what makes SQUAD different
• Process over product - we value exploration, not outcomes • Children as collaborators - not passive participants • Caregivers as partners - learning alongside their children • Materials with intention 0 open‑ended, beautiful, and respectful • Time to linger - because creativity cannot be rushed
Every experience at SQUAD is thoughtfully designed to support confidence, agency, and creative fluency.
Marissa McClure Sweeny, Founder & Director
Marissa McClure Sweeny is an early childhood educator, artist, and researcher with nearly two decades of experience working at the intersection of art, childhood, and community. Her work is grounded in a deep commitment to equity, accessibility, and honoring children’s voices.
Marissa holds an international scholarly record in art education and early childhood studies and brings this research‑informed lens into every SQUAD experience. As both a parent and educator, she understands the desire many caregivers feel to nurture creativity — and the uncertainty about how to do so.
SQUAD Art Studio was created as a response to that need: a place where children and adults can make art together, without pressure, judgment, or performance..
what we offer
• Process‑based art classes for young children • Caregiver‑child studio experiences • School and community partnerships • Professional learning and curriculum design
Each offering is rooted in care, research, and a belief that creativity is essential — not extracurricular.
our values
We are committed to:
• Equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility • Honoring multiple ways of knowing and creating • Building spaces where all families feel welcomed and respected • Ongoing reflection, learning, and growth
SQUAD Art Studio acknowledges that we live and work on the ancestral lands of Indigenous peoples and recognizes the responsibility to learn from and with the communities we serve.
an invitation
SQUAD is more than an art studio. It is a shared practice, a conversation, a place to return to what matters.
We invite you to slow down, get messy, ask questions, and create alongside us.
Come make with us.