Promising young artists on display at the Frost

The Frost Art Museum this week hosts aspiring young Picassos, Kahlos and Pollocks in an exhibit that hints at future greatness.

Forty-five students from South Miami Middle School, all of them enrolled in a fine arts track, gathered Sunday with parents and other well-wishers to celebrate an end-of-year show that features some of the youngsters’ best work. Colorful self-portraits, still lifes and sculptures in a variety of media will continue to pepper the museum’s first floor through this coming Sunday.

Graduating eighth-grader Demi Cepeda, shown with her mixed media work, “Distance,” will continue art studies in the fall at New World School of the Arts high.

The experience of seeing their work in a professional setting instilled a sense of pride in the children.

“It’s just really awesome to see it up,” said seventh-grader Eddy Alfonso, who showed off a collage that represents the many aspects of himself. “I feel like I’m a true artist.”

Teacher Margie Campmany appreciated the boost to her students’ self-esteem. “It is such an honor for them to be able to come to a museum where they can see the wonderful work that’s up by professional artists. I believe that their own confidence goes up because they have work hanging in the same building,” she said.

The Frost welcomes young people for that very reason, explained Miriam Machado, the museum’s curator of education. “We work with many schools and believe it is important to promote their efforts and their work,” she said. “It brings families to the museum and demonstrates to other children and adults how art can be a vehicle of expression in many different ways.”

Assistant Principal Iliana Artime praised the arrangement. “I think it’s a great thing that FIU is able to do this and partner with us,” she said. “The kids are so crazy-talented. We’re grateful that FIU has provided this opportunity for them to take it to another level.”