Mila Armstrong, 15 months, plays with paper lanterns with her mom Rae during opening day of The Wonder Studio at Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine on Friday, May 22, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Tyler Wooldridge, 4, signs his name to the artwork he made during opening day of The Wonder Studio at Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine on Friday, May 22, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Kids paint a cardboard car and the walls during opening day of The Wonder Studio at Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine on Friday, May 22, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ehibiits Manager Cindy Cruz speaks during the opening of The Wonder Studio at Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine on Friday, May 22, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Kids and adults play at various stations during opening day of The Wonder Studio at Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine on Friday, May 22, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Zayn Sarwari, 4, takes a photo with Irvine Vice Mayor James Mai during opening day of The Wonder Studio at Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine on Friday, May 22, 2026. Zayn is a council member at Pretend City, where they have their own mayor and council. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
People gather for the opening of The Wonder Studio at Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine on Friday, May 22, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Avah Shahi, 2, paints the walls during opening day of The Wonder Studio at Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine on Friday, May 22, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Harper Steen, 3, adds to a group sculpture during opening day of The Wonder Studio at Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine on Friday, May 22, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Mila Armstrong, 15 months, plays with paper lanterns with her mom Rae during opening day of The Wonder Studio at Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine on Friday, May 22, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
And creative and fun and sparking children’s imaginations.
The Wonder Studio recently opened at the Irvine-based children’s museum, and it is turning children into artists, giving them the opportunity to create art of their own.
Whether they are using their bodies to paint or digging into clay to sculpt, ” every corner of this experience is designed to be messy, joyful, and unforgettable,” museum officials said.
There is also a community sculpture that visitors are helping add to and a kid gallery is growing with their masterpieces.
The Wonder Studio will be open through Sept. 7. For information, visit pretendcity.org.
