In the art world, the name Tara McPherson is synonymous with feminine creatures rendered in confectionary pastels and contrasting bold colors. But don’t be fooled; the stars of McPherson’s work are no damsels in distress. They are forces to be reckoned with, emoting emphatically from the canvas, vinyl, fabric, game board, etc. McPherson does not limit herself to one medium. Her particular brand of modern/lowbrow/pop art translates well into many formats. Now a gallery darling and former Parsons instructor, she began her career creating unique gig posters for rock bands. This facet of her work still fetches a high price on the secondary market.
The artist and her delightful assortment of characters will be at The Arts Factory on Thursday as part of her Summer Tour. McPherson started her Summer Tours in 2016, making one-day stops in cities all over the country. At every location a pop-up shop is erected, and for a few short hours fans can purchase varied merchandise — from prints to buttons, books to stickers — as well as meet the artist herself.
This is the first time McPherson and her Cotton Candy Machine Pop-Up Shop has visited Las Vegas. The Arts Factory’s maze-like halls have a certain clandestine charm more usually encountered in 1980s New York — gritty and on the verge of change. This makes it the natural fit for this temporary shopping experience.
The store hours are 7-9 p.m.
If you plan to attend (and you should), arrive early and expect to wait in line. McPherson has the tendency to not only draw beautiful creatures, but also large crowds.