instructors
Abrielle Terzian
Abrielle Terzian, better known as Elle, is a recent Art Studio graduate from UC Davis, excited to begin a new adventure here at Museo. What began as a childhood love for Japanese manga like Sailor Moon and the magical worlds of Studio Ghibli quickly grew into a lifelong passion for art.
Born and raised in California’s Bay Area, Elle immersed herself in the arts from an early age, taking every art class available and even serving as president of her high school’s art club. She went on to earn her Associate’s degree in Graphic Design from De Anza College before transferring to UC Davis, where she achieved her Bachelor’s degree in Art Studio.
While living in Davis, Elle became an art instructor at Bubblegum Art Studio, where she combined her creative skills with her experience in childcare to create fun, engaging lessons for young artists. Skilled in a wide range of media, Elle has a special love for digital art and traditional drawing, and she’s passionate about inspiring her students to explore their imaginations and discover their creative voices.
Amanda Lien
It’s probably a good thing Amanda’s mother never dissuaded her from watching cartoons or playing video games, since that’s exactly what she’s now making herself. Doodling random art during class in elementary and middle school slowly turned into sketching of her own characters and stories in high school.
After graduating from Skyline High School, she earned a degree in Multimedia and Web Design at the Art Institute of Seattle. Turns out that she’s not a fan of web design, and drawing is her true calling. Amanda is now working on finishing her Production Animation Degree at DigiPen in Redmond. “It’s a wondrous thing when watching the newest animated film or playing the next great video game can be classified as research”.
Amanda focuses heavily on character design and development, but the grinding of her instructors gave her a good rounded knowledge of painting, sculpture, 3D modeling, and animation as well. All of which she addresses in her Manga classes at Museo Art Academy.
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Amy Hill
Amy has been drawn to the imaginative elements of art as long as she can remember. Fusing her interest in space and science fiction with her passion for the fired arts, she hand-glazes celestial scenes onto the surface of pottery. Her work has been featured at the American Astronomical Society conference and the Art of Planetary Science show along with various craft fairs since 2017. Her portfolio can be viewed at instagram.com/amyraehill.
After receiving a BFA from Western Washington University in 2013, she’s enjoyed instructing everything from large-scale corporate painting events, to national pottery painting workshops, to her current weekly classes at Museo! Helping students learn the tools to communicate through art is a passion of hers, and she is endlessly grateful for the chance to impact their artistic lives.
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Bata Schell
Bata developed a profound appreciation for art from an early age and has been a passionate educator with over a decade of experience in inspiring and nurturing students.
Bata took a significant step in her artistic journey by enrolling in a professional art high school in Taiwan. Recognizing the importance of formal education to hone her skills and expand her artistic horizons, this decision marked a pivotal moment in her commitment to the world of visual arts. After earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Northern MIchigan University , she embarked on a journey to explore various art forms and teaching methodologies. In time, she not only discovered her proficiency in teaching but also cultivated a deep passion for it, parallel to her love for art. The realization that she could merge these two passions became a defining moment in her professional journey. For her, the classroom is a canvas where the strokes of inspiration, knowledge, and mentorship converge to create a masterpiece of learning experiences.
Bata has curated and organized numerous art exhibitions, showcasing not only her own artistic endeavors but also providing a platform for her students to display their talents. Recognizing the potential for her students to gain exposure and recognition within the broader artistic community, she saw the juried art show as an ideal platform to celebrate their creativity. As an experienced art teacher, she continues to ignite the spark of creativity in her students, instilling in them a lifelong appreciation for the arts and empowering the next generation of artists to make their mark on the world.
Claire Frederick
​Claire is a fiber artist and painter who has been passionate about art education for as long as she can remember. She recently graduated with a Bachelor's in Fine Art from Western Washington University where for her thesis she was able to create a large crocheted installation housing three worm-like creatures. Since college, she has worked as an art studio assistant for a mosaic artist while also continuing to experiment with her own artwork. She believes that the best art teachers are always learning and growing with the students!
Claire is experienced in most art mediums, but finds fulfillment in helping others grow as artists and express themselves. As Assistant Programs Manager, she is excited to dedicate her experience and passion to getting more young people excited about the arts!​
Connor Kriha
Connor Kriha is a 3D sculptor and board game designer born and raised in Chicago, IL. At the age of six, Connor knew he wanted to be an artist, and ever since then, he has taken every opportunity to develop, refine, and improve his creative skills. From ceramic sculptures to digital illustrations, Connor’s eccentric style can be seen in everything he creates.
Connor graduated from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in industrial/product design. Since then, he has made it his goal to share his creativity and passion with everyone he can. He mentors students interested in a career as a toy and game inventor and holds workshops teaching advanced prototyping skills like mold making and resin casting.
When not at Museo Art Academy, Connor designs, tests, and makes toys, games, and puzzles as an independent inventor. He has licensed his ideas to companies worldwide, including ThinkFun, Goliath, and Hasbro. You can also find him locked away in his studio, trying to design and sew his costume for next year's Halloween party.
You can check out his work at : https://www.connorkriha.com/
Gavin Cheng
As an artist with an itchy finger, Gavin possesses a wide variety of proficiency in the arts and spends most of his time learning new skills and techniques. He believes art is one of the best mediums for self-expression and communication. Picking up a pencil at the young age of 6, he began to understand and learn his creativity in an exciting way that has continued to this day. Gavin continues to practice art in a variety of media. He primarily focuses on digital art and has been exploring black-and-white illustrative works. Gavin is excited to be developing an art style he can call his own.
Now having rejoined the MUSEO team, he returns with a Master's degree in Education and currently teaches art and animation at a high school level in his hometown of Sacramento, California, at Laguna Creek High School. MUSEO was one of his first forays into the world of teaching, before he pursued it professionally, and now he can fully delve into his passion for art education. Gavin is excited to return with more experience and passion in his belt!
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Matty Benson
Matty is an artist through and through. He started drawing as early as he possibly could and never stopped. Growing up close to Disneyland, and the Disney Animation Academy in California Adventure by extension, he was inspired to become a creator of characters and films as well. Matty is also a previous Museo student, having spent over seven years taking classes from age 11-18. The experience he gained at Museo helped him to truly appreciate the process of creating art in so many ways.
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There was no question about what degree Matty was going to pursue after high school. He decided on DigiPen: Institute of Technology in Redmond years before applying, and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree there in Animation. A huge motivation for Matty is the idea of one day inspiring a new generation of students to create, just like children’s movies and TV inspired him as a kid. Because of that, he’s so thankful for the opportunity to pass that down to the new students coming to Museo!
Sabah Najam
Sabah has been part of MUSEO Art Academy for over five years, where she has served as both an instructor and Programs Director. She is passionate about helping young artists grow in skill and confidence, and she brings warmth, patience, and creativity to every class she leads.
Outside the classroom, Sabah is a practicing artist who specializes in acrylic portraiture and enjoys creating custom artwork on shoes, t-shirts, and other unique surfaces. Earlier in her career, she also ran her own creative business in India, Paper Pigeons, where she designed and sold handmade pop-up cards. This blend of teaching experience and personal artistry allows her to inspire students to explore different mediums, think creatively, and take pride in their own artistic voice.
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