Winter 2025

60 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 2 5 S ome artists are seemingly born to do the work they’ve chosen. Such is the case with this Carmel painter/gallery owner.“I didn’t go to art school,” Jennifer Perlmutter says.“I’m mostly self-taught.”This Napa, California, native’s early experience included working behind the scenes in the entertainment industry, first in radio, then film and television in New York. “When I came back to California, I worked in studio art departments in LA.” Disillusioned with the film business, Perlmutter transitioned into build- ing and finishing furniture, a creative endeavor that led her to begin cre- ating the compelling and thought-provoking mixed-media paintings that grace the walls of her Carmel gallery on Dolores Street. “I recognized that building and painting were a passion.” She’s been a full-time artist since 1996. Originally, she painted on wood: “I like the texture of wood, so now that I work on canvas, I plaster and paper the surfaces, building texture with textiles and other materials and acrylic paint.” Her pieces are composed of layers and layers that lend a dramatic three-dimensional feel to the subjects. “It’s a dream come true to be in Carmel-by-the-Sea,” she says.This tal- ented artist is part of a welcome and growing trend of artist-owned gal- leries in town. For more information, visit www.jenniferperlmuttergallery.com — Michael Chatfield ART I ST PROF I L E Jennifer Perlmutter Photo: Kelli Uldall