Written by:
Catherine Plato
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this Issue of Curve:
Vol. 16#10
If her sweetly creepy style looks familiar, you’ve probably seen one of the many gig posters that artist Tara McPherson has designed for bands including Green Day, Le Tigre, Depeche Mode and the Strokes. An artist since the tender age of 3, McPherson grew up attending art magnet schools and eventually enrolled in Santa Monica Community College as an astrophysics student. Realizing her heart belonged at the canvas and not the observatory, McPherson returned to her lifelong love and became one of New York’s most sought-after illustrators since.
Learn more about McPherson and see her posters and fine art prints in Lonely Heart, released by Dark Horse Press in September 2006.
Who are your favorite artists?
Some of my favorite artists are Bronzino, Caravaggio, Botticelli, Ingres, Titian, Hans Bellmer, John Currin, Lucien Freud, Katsuya Terada, Hokusai, Takashi Murakami and Yoshitomo Nara.
Do you have a dream client, project, or collaboration?
I would love to go to Italy and paint for 5 years then come back and have an exhibition at the Whitney.
You live in Brooklyn, right? What’s your local community of artists like, and how does it influence what you do?
There is a very large and diverse art community here and it’s very inspiring to see and hear what everyone is working on. There is a higher level of production here I think, A sense of urgency that I don’t feel in other cities, which in turn makes me work harder. The days just feel longer and I feel like I can get more done. Everything is open until 4 am so if I work until 2 am, I can still go out to dinner and have nightcap before going to bed. Where else can you do that!
Do you have one project that you’re particularly proud of, or that was especially fun to do?
I love my new Isis poster... But in general I’d say I’m always fond of my newest jobs. I love all the comic covers too.
What’s next for you? I saw you’re working on something for Vertigo comics — what is it about?
I’m working on a painted graphic novel called Donor, but that won’t be done for another year. I am working on a line of new toys with Kidrobot. Those should start being released sometime next year
And since we’re a lesbian magazine, I’ve gotta ask ... do you happen to identify as queer? Are you in a relationship?
I like boys and girls..... And I’m single right now [smiles].
See more of her work and shop for sweetly creepy swag online at taramcpherson.com.
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