TIME BANDITS
Emerging Art by Gen Alpha
July 19 through August 16, 2025
Opening Reception: Saturday, July 19, 2-5 pm
A remarkable and enviable aspect of children is the inexhaustible, unfettered imagination they demonstrate early on in their lives. When nurtured by parents, family, friends, and their extended community, this creativity bears fruit to captivating storytelling, unorthodox fashion styling, unique construction, and fearless art-making. Imagine then an art show comprised of some of the most precocious talents in Southern California today; each one under the age of 12 displaying innate skills that could rival any MFA graduate.
TIME BANDITS: Emerging Art by Gen Alpha, on view at Bermudez Projects gallery in Cypress Park from July 19 through August 16, 2025, brings together five young artists whose works capture their ceaseless bound of energy to create. Works on paper, watercolor, paintings, and mixed media adorn the gallery walls in this discovery of the über-next generation of visual artists. Abstract Expressionism, Neo-Surrealism, Impressionism, Figurative, and Conceptualism are a few of the styles representative of the artists’ works. From brightly-hued kaleidoscopic patterns to thought-provoking landscapes to moody, dreamlike apparitions from our historic past, every artwork conveys a sophistication belying the true age of its progenitors.
Each artist came to discover art in distinct ways – through school, specialized classes, or familial legacy.
Malia Maquindang-Crespo (age 10) has been immersed in art since before her birth, as she is the daughter of banking analyst Shirley Maquindang and Emmanuel Crespo, a represented artist at Bermudez Projects. Similarly, Domino Freeman (age 3) and Penelope Rose Freeman (age 5) live with art every day as they are daughters to attorney Stacy Freeman and Samuel Freeman, the notable gallerist. Tesla Nobel Torres (age 8) is the creative wildcard. Her parents – Julie Bermudez and Steven Torres – are educators of chemistry and mathematics, respectively; and have fostered a long-standing appreciation for the arts. Oliver Othenin-Girard (age 8) has been honing his skill as an illustrator, painter, and digital artist for years. Yes, years. As son to media executive Vember Othenin-Girard and entrepreneur David Othenin-Girard, his exposure to art, film and culture has been part and parcel to his upbringing.
In fact, each artist in TIME BANDITS represents and reflects the span of creative diversity throughout history. Fine art, literature, history, cuisine, architecture, popular culture, nature, science, film, music, dance, and more are experienced, siphoned, synthesized, and utilized to achieve a visual output that is deeply thoughtful, evocative, and personal.
TIME BANDITS celebrates the unbridled imaginings and skills of these impressive artists. As such, all the artworks have been displayed at their eye level, so that they – and their peers – can enjoy and appreciate their work. As adults, a little extra effort may need to be made to experience the works by these future art masters. Rest assured. It’s worth it.