Tara McPherson

I picked up a copy of Lost Constellations: The Art of Tara McPherson yesterday when I saw it in the “Arty Comics” section at my university bookstore (yeah, who knew?). It’s true that artists with a Pop Surreal aesthetic featuring cartoony cute alternative girls with motifs of hearts, bubbles, etc., are really, really, common nowadays, but that doesn’t mean I’m not still charmed by every one I see. I’ve noticed Tara McPherson‘s work before, but this time around I just felt an urge to pick the book up and buy it and take it home with me.

Lovelorn or love-vicious space-girls and hollow spaces where hearts should be are at the heart of Tara’s work. Her paintings and illustrations are sweet, surreal, and occasionally almost mystical with a mysterious symbolism. They often come in series. Below are some of my favorite pieces from the book as well as others that aren’t in it.

Tags: cartoony, pop surrealism, poster illustrations, space girls, tara mcpherson