Bonsai Treehouses by Dave Creek
Pacific Bonsai Museum hosts the so called ‘Traveling Treehouse Exhibit’ in 2025. Veteran animation artist and Bob’s Burgers lead character designer Dave Creek had long dreamed that the intricate, hand-carved bonsai treehouses he made in his free time might one day be displayed in children’s hospitals so that they could help transport the patients to a world of imagination and adventure.
Pacific Bonsai Museum will honor the creative legacy of Dave Creek, a lead character designer for the animation Bob’s Burgers, through an extraordinary exhibition celebrating his unique art of creating miniature treehouses nestled in deceased bonsai.
Skydiving
Dave Creek, who tragically passed away in 2021 after a skydiving accident, was passionate about creating intricate miniature treehouses in his free time outside of his Bob’s Burgers animation work. Creek spent over a decade building his first treehouse, which was purchased by Pete Nelson, host of the TV series Treehouse Masters. This piece, along with five other treehouse sculptures, will be on loan for the upcoming exhibition at the Pacific Bonsai Museum. Creek dedicated thousands of hours to crafting these delicate structures, approaching each piece with an organic, intuitive process. “I get all the answers from the tree,” he wrote on his Instagram, reflecting his deep connection to his art.
Art has the power to heal and provide solace
Dave Creek
A Legacy of Inspiration
The exhibit is more than an art display—it’s a memorial to Creek’s boundless creativity. Curator Aarin Packard hopes visitors will be “empowered to pursue their own dreams and creativity, inspired by Creek’s passion and dedication.”
Five of the treehouses belong to Dave Creek’s Traveling Treehouses, a nonprofit co-founded by his sister Aleasha Ramsay and Brett Coker, President at Bento Box Entertainment, to bring joy to children’s hospitals. Ramsay, who authored the children’s book, Dave Creek’s Traveling Treehouses, noted, “Life is a delicate balance of risk and reward, beautifully embodied by my brother, Dave. His passion for creating and exploring the world, both in art and in life, serves as a powerful reminder that fully embracing our dreams is what truly enriches our existence. In honoring his legacy, I encourage everyone to pursue what they love, for it is in those moments of courage that we truly come alive. The most profound moments of our lives lie just beyond our fears.”
We believe that art has the power to heal and provide solace, and we hope that through this exhibit, we can bring a touch of wonder and joy to the brave children facing challenging times.
The Exhibition
Opening February 11, 2025, “Building Wonder: Bonsai Treehouses by Dave Creek” will showcase:
• Six meticulously crafted treehouses integrated into deceased bonsai
• Photographs documenting Creek’s life and creative journey
• Quotes highlighting his creativity and passion
• A representation of the mobile “van life” studio Creek created to work on his craft daily, even in remote locations.
This will be the first time that the general public will be able to view the treehouse sculptures outside of children’s hospitals.
Exhibit Details
Dates: February 11, 2025 – December 21, 2025
Location: Pacific Bonsai Museum, 2515 S 336th Street, Federal Way, WA 98001
Cost: Free entry (Suggested donation: $12)
Parking: Free, wheelchair-accessible
