Tara McPherson
New York, NY, United States
Bio
California native Tara McPherson has a thing about space. She was the Vice President of the astronomy club at school and even started studying for an astrophysics degree, but luckily (for us) she chose instead to follow her artistic talents. But even now she illustrates her characters for her Laptop Art under starry skies, wearing spaceman-like helmets. One of her most iconic images, a female figure with a heart-shaped void in her torso, is called Orion. A recent series of paintings are based on a gravitationally lensed quasar called Einstein’s Cross. And for her Infectious Car Art she envisioned her intergalactic bunny Ion Z zooming down your car in his rocket ship. Tara is now based in Williamsburg, New York, where as well as pursuing her otherworldy themes, she has also created critically-acclaimed concert posters for the likes of Beck, The Strokes and Depeche Mode.
Interview
Describe your style in one sentence:
Sweetly Creepy.
What are the name of your Infectious art pieces?
Love Blows and Space Adventure.
Tell us a little bit about the pieces and the inspiration behind them?
My initial creation of the heart hole was from a break-up. It is a symbol of the inevitable cycle of love, but also has a sense of power and hope attached to it. Ace and Ion are fun loving creatures that explore the galaxies. The skull flowers are symbolic of when you bury a bad thought in your head. It physically manifests itself and grows out of the ground, showing that you can’t really hide from yourself because the truth will be exposed inevitably. The Mr. Wiggle balloons are defenders and protectors, but the irony is that they are just balloons and can’t really do anything physical to defend you. They have emotive eyes and empathy and speak in a language of looks and movement, kind of like a puppy.
What’s the first picture you can remember drawing as a child?
I remember drawing on the kitchen walls!
What was your first job?
I was 15 and I got a job at The Rib Stop. I turned vegetarian and quit within two months.
What was your first car and what is your dream car?
My first car was an Oldsmobile station wagon. Ha! After that I had a 68 Nova for a long time but I sold her when I moved to NY, but now I think I’d love a 65 Malibu.
How do you get inspiration for your gig posters?
Sometimes it’s from the band name or a lyric, but now I’m more interested in exploring the feeling their music gives you. For a poster I made for Isis, I ended up drawing a woman battling a snake, but the inspiration came from the intensity of their music. I was also watching a horror movie while I drew and it just pushed it all along in a very beautiful way.
What’s the best response and what’s the worst response you’ve ever had from a band after they’ve seen a poster you’ve done for them?
The best is hearing when band members frame my posters in their houses. The worst was when the singer of The Fall saw my poster and told the tour manager – looks like a girl did it.
You’re a collector of band posters yourself – which one is you most prized?
One of my favorites is a Sonic Youth poster by Casey Burns. It hangs framed in my living room.
If your art was music, what would it sound like?
I think it would sound something like The Melvins because they can be really intense and rich, but then transition to something more experimental or even whimsical, and it’s all very cohesive.
What’s currently on rotation on your iPod?
Baroness, Torche, These Arms are Snakes, French Kicks, Against Me!, Isis, Catpower, Billie Holiday, Enslaved, Sons and Daughters, Zozobra, Les Savy Fav, Saviours, The Decemberists, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Priestess, Converge, PJ Harvey, The Melvins, Rye Coalition, The Sword, Mew. And tons more.
What’s the most unusual thing that’s ever inspired a piece of your art?
A text message breakup I watched a friend of mine go through at my house. His girlfriend texted him back that she was crying her eyes out. I was working on my Depeche Mode poster at the time and needed some extra element to make the drawing stronger. It made me think that her mascara was probably running down her face, then it dawned on me that would look really great on my poster. You never know when inspiration will hit you!
What’s the most extreme reaction you’ve had from a fan?
Last year at Comic-Con someone had me autograph their arm underneath a tattoo they had of mine, they came back the next day with my autograph tattooed!
What are your vices?
Shoes, eyeshadow, books, toys, clothes, eating out, good tequila, marshmallow fluff.
If you had to change careers, what would be next?
Astrophysics for sure, probably specializing in stellar evolution.
Are there any upcoming shows or projects you’d like to share?
I have a Coloring Book coming out next month with Dark Horse, events in London, Tilburg, Hamburg and Lisbon in September, four new paintings in an exhibit in Rome in October, 10 new paintings in an exhibit in Sao Paulo in January, a Mini-Figure set with Kidrobot in April, and my second art book with Dark Horse right after that. Yay!
7/31/08
