Reisha Perlmutter "Perceived Reality II"

Reisha Perlmutter "Perceived Reality II" 2024

Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 40 x 60 in
Unique
Signed on Verso, includes certificate of authenticity.

Reisha Perlmutter is a contemporary American artist. Her work explores the connection between the human body and nature, with a thematic dedication to conservation. She primarily focuses on the liberation of female figures underwater. Her paintings are frequently self-portraits and are inspired by her own experience of meditation in the water. Her imagery is directly influenced by her process as an underwater photographer and freediver. Born in 1990 in Naples, Florida, she received her BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and her MFA from the New York Academy of Art. She currently lives and works in New York.

Perlmutter's works weave bold brushwork with hyperrealism and explore concepts of femininity and fluidity, eloquently expressing the beauty and serenity found in these interactions. Her paintings are not only a celebration of the female form in harmony with water but also a profound commentary on the inherent beauty in the human connection to the natural landscape, highlighting our deep and intrinsic bond with the environment. This interplay in her art challenges traditional notions of beauty, focusing on naturalism and the innate harmony between our bodies and the environment.

“My work explores the intersection of the human form, water, and light, using these elements to evoke themes of transformation, connection, and introspection. I merge classical painting techniques and materials with a contemporary practice and understanding of image-making, drawing upon centuries-old methods while forging a visual language that resonates with this moment in time. Inspired by the feminine experience and the natural world, I engage water as both a visual and emotional medium—one that embodies resilience and vulnerability while reflecting the fluidity of our internal landscapes. I strive to create a space where the inner and outer realms seamlessly converge, allowing us to experience our own presence in a more expansive, visceral way. Water, with its capacity to slow perception and bring us back into our bodies, has long drawn me in—not only for its visual complexity, but for its subtle capacity to mirror our own fluid nature. When I paint figures immersed in water, I’m not simply depicting a scene; I’m inviting a dialogue with sensation.” - Reisha Perlmutter