No Need To Reminisce

SEP 6—OCT 4 2025

LIV GALLERY: 424 E 9th St. NY, NY

Through abstract-figuration and representational paintings, Adrian Bermeo reflects on the erasure of cultural histories while reclaiming narratives through both personal and political lenses. His first solo exhibition with the gallery addresses censorship and restrictive policies imposed on immigrant communities, proposing instead a subversive reality—one grounded in cyclical legacies of ancestry and their contributions to our lives. Rooted in his lived experiences as a native New Yorker of Puerto Rican and Ecuadorian descent, along with his formative influences in graffiti, Bermeo prompts audiences to consider a reverberating truth: intergenerational knowledge and identity endure as long as familial traditions and collective memory are reinforced—despite legislation that wishes to dilute or scrub such histories.

Central to these explorations are recurring motifs of dominoes, functioning as both symbol and totem—an enduring signifier of cultural customs and inheritance, both wanted and not. The game, often played across generations and tables, becomes a metaphorical site where migration, kinship, and survival are remembered and reinforced, plotting courses for future generations. In these modular paintings, multiple domino pieces connect not as static objects but as living timelines, each unique impression shaped by trauma, triumph, and pivotal shifts that influence the next. By situating dominoes as branching genealogies, the artist challenges fabricated American ideals that seek to flatten or dismiss such birthrights—presenting them as testaments of continuity and guidance.

The response to affirming cultural ties and inclusivity arrives at a moment when executive action is dramatically reshaping the psyche surrounding immigration and inclusion in the United States. The U.S. immigrant population has declined by over 1 million since January 2025, falling from 53.3 million to 51.9 million—a shift that reflects the impact of 181 executive actions targeting arrival, asylum, and residency rights. Meanwhile, executive orders such as EO 14159 (Protecting the American People Against Invasion) and EO 14160 (revoking birthright citizenship for many) expand government control over refugee admissions, access to public benefits, and eligibility for legal status—stirring widespread concern and reversing human rights laws. Further, EO 14253 (Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History), signed on March 31, 2025, mandates the removal of so-called “improper ideology” from Smithsonian institutions and federal properties, reinstating monuments or exhibits altered since 2020. This order, widely criticized as historical erasure, underscores how cultural narratives—alongside immigration law—are being rewritten under the guise of preserving American “greatness”.

His new figurative works, layered with abstraction and obscured commentary, invite viewers into reflection on the ancestral ties that have shaped the dark sides of American history, challenging constructs that continue to revert social realities and human rights laws. In the context of political discourse marked by divisive policies in the U.S., Bermeo underscores the simplicity and significance of shared experiences—through food, music, play, and gathering—as a radical defense against separation, compliance, and silence. This exhibition carries profound personal resonance, tributing to his maternal great-grandmother’s arrival on Delancey Street in Manhattan’s Lower East Side in 1938. No Need To Reminisce transpires not only as a personal archive but as a public offering, affirming that ancestral presence remains active, guiding, and present—reminding us that sustaining cultural legacies ultimately depends on acts of love and healing, through cultural appreciation versus cultural appropriation.

— Adrian Bermeo, 2025

References: 

1. Reporter, G. S. (2025, August 24). Trump news at a glance: after 50 years of growth US immigrant population in decline amid wider crackdown. The Guardian / The Guardian

2. Executive and regulatory actions under the second Trump administration. (2025, August 21). NAFSA /WikipediaNAFSA
   
   

About Artist | @bermeonyc

Adrian Bermeo (b. 1989, Queens, NY) is a Puerto Rican-Ecuadorian visual artist and curator. He has studied at Liga De Arte, San Juan, Puerto Rico; SVA; and Hunter College, NY, NY. Bermeo has served as a fellow teaching artist for MoMA, 2023; QNS Collaborative, 2024; and Flushing Town Hall, 2025. He has exhibited work with Local Project Art Space, 2017; Mana Contemporary, 2019; Novado Gallery, 2020; The Queens Museum, 2020; Art House, 2021; All Street NYC, 2022; 17 Frost Gallery, 2023; Elm Foundation, 2024; and The Bronx Museum, 2025; among others.

About Liv Gallery | @_livgallery

Liv Gallery is committed to supporting and showcasing emerging artists while fostering an inclusive and vibrant community for creatives in New York City. Situated in the heart of the Lower East Side, Manhattan, the gallery serves as a spirited platform where innovation is nurtured, meaningful connections are cultivated, and artistic passions are celebrated. Through thoughtfully curated exhibitions, engaging programs, and strategic partnerships, Liv Gallery uplifts both new and established voices in contemporary art. The gallery’s mission goes beyond presentation—it seeks to build a thriving cultural ecosystem that inspires dialogue, supports creative growth, and welcomes artists, collectors, and art enthusiasts alike. At Liv Gallery, creativity is not only displayed, but actively lived, shared, and cherished.

For press enquiries please contact artist: bermeonyc@gmail.com