Thea Hurwitz collects a lot of things, like yarn, soda pull tabs, tiny objects, and funky earrings. These collections come in handy when she has a funny idea or a question to answer like, “I want to create an art piece that looks like my busy thoughts,” or: “where do pigeons go at night?”

She is inspired by children’s books, nature, and things that are about to be thrown away. Thea uses a lot of different materials and loves to paint, sculpt with clay, weave with yarn, and sew with recycled fabric and found objects.

The most important helpers with her art are the interesting, smart, and funny children she works with. Her art is silly, colorful, and scrappy. She is always learning new things and is excited to share her work with the community of Children’s Discovery Museum. Stop by the LeRoy Neiman Art Studio on the weekends until February 2026 to meet Thea and get creative together!

Artists-in-Residence Program

At Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, we believe that the arts are a place where we are able to discover ourselves, explore the world around us, imagine brilliant futures, and connect with our communities. We believe that the arts are not a luxury, and instead, that art and creative expression are a key part of every child’s development and education. We strive to teach children that the arts and culture are not only something they can interact with, but something they can also help to create.