Annie Pearlman’s paintings occupy that sliver of fantasy-filled consciousness right before you fall asleep. Her nocturnal urban landscapes are constructed of trees, rolling hills, platforms, windows and teeming buildings. Witness the juxtaposition of skyscrapers and darkened parks; the rhythmic patterning of glowing lights that signal nearby activity; in darkness the city is both stage set and glamorous spectacle. The mundane opens up to reveal a realm of heightened possibility, fantasy, seduction and altered states; the familiar becomes unfamiliar and the inside and outside merge.

Her music videos for Gary Wilson and her own band Private Time occupy this same world. Opened out, sweeping and voluminous, they employ animated 3d models, available youtube talent and friends to enhance the movement and rhythm of the music.

Inspired by dreams, music, comedy, and the city where she lives, Pearlman’s paintings and videos interpret romance, freedom and opportunity through landscapes and perceptions of space. Reminiscent of Busby Berkeley musicals, golden age animation backgrounds and the paintings of Roger Brown, her work evokes that sense of wonder, mystery and potential of a city night.

Annie Pearlman is a composer and visual artist working in Brooklyn, NY. She holds a BFA in Film from NYU.

Tomato House is an artist-run space operated by Rebecca Bird and Matthew Thurber.