Tara McPherson is a painter, poster artist and freelance illustrator based out of New York City. Creating art about people and their odd ways, Tara's characters seem to exude an idealized innocence with a glimpse of hard earned wisdom in their eyes. Recalling many issues from childhood and good old life experience, she creates images that are thought provoking and seducing. People and their relationships are a central theme throughout her work. Her recent projects have been painted covers for DC/Vertigo Comics (including Lucifer, Sandman Presents Thessaly Witch For Hire, and The Witching), a series of ads for Fanta soda (UK), and gig posters for rock bands such as Duran Duran, Modest Mouse, Queens of the Stone Age, Death Cab For Cutie and others. She will also be showing paintings and prints in selected group art exhibitions in 2005, with a solo poster exhibit at BLK/MRKT Gallery in May 2006. Tara's art has been included in books such as The Art of Modern Rock (Chronicle), SWAG (Abrams), SWAG 2 (Abrams), Project Superior (Adhouse), The Art of Electric Frankenstein (Dark Horse), Sci Fi Western (Last Gasp), and Panda Meat (Last Gasp). Upcoming books include Illustration Now! (Taschen).

Her recent merchandising projects have been a stationery set, a sticker line, a cell phone wallpaper licensing contract, and her own line of self published merchandise including buttons, snow globes, bookmarks, puzzles and mouse pads.

She graduated from Art Center in Pasadena, CA in August 2001 with honors in Illustration and a minor in Fine Art. She interned at Rough Draft Studios, working on Matt Groening's "Futurama" during college.

Tara has been featured and/or interviewed by Magnet, Spin, Lemonade, Paste, Communication Arts, F Magazine, International Tattoo Art, Skratch, Atomica, Silver Bullet Comics, Modern Fix, Fahrenheit, Willamette Week, LA Weekly, DC Comics, Destroy All Monthly, Punk Planet, Burnout, Savage Tattoo, Cozytone, Crown Dozen, Tablet and Fused Magazine. Her posters have been featured in set designs on various films and television shows such as MGM's Sleepover, UPN's Veronica Mars and Fox's Point Pleasant. She also won the Communication Arts 2005 Award of Excellence for her painted covers for DC Comics.

Some of her clients include DC/Vertigo Comics, Spin, Fanta, Goldenvoice, Knitting Factory, House of Blues, Atomica Magazine, Skratch Magazine, Punk Planet, Complete Control NYC Booking, New York Is Book Country, Nike, and Nederlander Concerts.

Tara McPherson products