The Cotton Candy Machine

Hey We All Die Sometimes, image of painting. Girl laying in the snow with a heart shaped hole in her chest, and a black flower growing out of the snow through it.

THE UMIBOZU WISH PRINT RELEASE!

In The Umibozu Wish, Tara McPherson captures a moment of delicate wonder at sea. The painting depicts a young, wide-eyed Umibozu—a mythical sea spirit often feared in Japanese folklore—reimagined here with childlike innocence. Floating gently atop tranquil waters under a star-filled, dreamy sky, the small Umibozu gazes in awe at a butterfly that hovers just above the calm sea.

The encounter is a moment suspended in time, where the dark unknown of the ocean meets the fragile beauty of a land-born creature. Traditionally portrayed as a destructive force of the deep, the Umibozu is seen here not as a monster, but as something softer—a spirit capable of curiosity and transformation. The butterfly symbolizes change, hope, and new beginnings. It becomes a metaphor for personal evolution—an embodiment of what becomes possible when we recognize ourselves in something so different.

McPherson’s signature pastel palette and surreal aesthetic elevate the scene into a visual poem, blending mythology with emotion. The Umibozu Wish is a quiet wish made visible—a tender vision of growth, connection, and the courage to dream beyond what one was born to be.

Umibozu with large eyes looking at a butterfly against a spacey night sky

Framed artwork of a Umibozu with red eyes and a butterfly on a teal background, displayed on a wall above a green cabinet.

Illustration of an Umibozu with large eyes and a butterfly on a starry night sky background.

Illustration of a Umibozu with large eyes on a teal background, placed on a decorative surface.

Detail of the Butterfly from Tara McPherson's The Umibozu Wish.

Illustration of a Umibozu with large eyes and a butterfly on a starry night sky background.

The Umibozu Wish

$80.00

| /

Archival Pigment Print
Legacy Etching Cotton Fiber
17" x 22"
Edition of 200
Signed and Numbered

In The Umibozu Wish, Tara McPherson reimagines the traditionally fearsome Yokai of Japanese folklore with sweet innocence. Floating on tranquil waters beneath a dreamy, star-filled sky, a young Umibozu reaches towards a butterfly—a symbol of hope, transformation, and new beginnings. McPherson’s soft pastel palette and surreal style turn this quiet encounter into a moment of magic, vulnerability, and the courage to dream beyond one’s origins.

Umibozu Lake

$80.00

| /

Archival Pigment Print
Legacy Etching Cotton Fibre
20 mil / 314 gsm
17" x 17”
Edition of 200
Signed and Numbered

Originally painted in oils, this imagery reveals a clandestine midnight meeting deep in the dark waters. Calling to her little Umibozu, or Japanese sea spirits, they gather around Namaka, our luminous divine being, in a perfect circle. Will they set out for mischief, wreaking havoc on wayward ships, or will they align with love and guide those in need to safety? Either way, the ethereal beings are poised to play.

The initial release of this image was a limited edition print on wood, and an alternate version as a Kickstarter reward with the Dreamwell logo for Tara’s board game. We are proud to release this favorite now as an archival fine art paper print edition for the 1st time.

UMI

$80.00

| /

Archival Pigment Print
Legacy Etching Cotton Fiber
17" x 22"
Edition of 200
Signed and Numbered

Our kappa girl has powers beyond the unexpected. She becomes one with the water, and the umibozu that has made a home in her personal fountain, has become one with her. A symbiotic relationship that makes them unified as one. When she hums, water emanates upwards, dancing and undulating to the vibrations within them, intensifying as it echos through the water.

Illustration of a woman with blue hair and a pink mask, framed by decorative elements and text.

People walking in a subway station with a large mural of Tara McPherson's Franz Ferdinand gig poster on the wall.

People walking in a subway station with a colorful muralby Tara McPherson on the wall.

People in orange vests replacing th Duroc Metro Sign with a Du Rock sign

Illustrated poster featuring a stylized woman with blue hair and a pink mask, with the text 'Franz Ferdinand' and 'Rock En Seine' above a decorative border.

Detail image of the print numbering from Tara McPherson's Franz Ferdinand gig poster

Detail image of Tara McPherson's signature on her Franz Ferdinand gig poster

Franz Ferdinand 2013

$35.00 $60.00

| /

6 Color Silkscreen
18″ x 24”
Edition of 275
Signed and Numbered

This poster was part of a full takeover of the Duroc Tube Station during the festival — with giant framed versions displayed throughout the station. They towered at over 10 feet tall, becoming an unforgettable visual experience for concertgoers and commuters alike. The station was temporarily renamed "Du Rock" in honor of the event — a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration between music, art, and public space.

Now you can own a piece of that history!

Rock En Seine, Vendredi 23 Août
Paris, France
2013

Father John Misty

$35.00 $60.00

| /

5 Color Silkscreen
18" x 24"
Edition of 200
Signed and Numbered

Tara created this poster for Father John Misty's concert at the Skyline Stage at the Mann Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA on September 15, 2017 from the Pure Comedy Tour. This piece was later chosen to be published in the 2018 Communication Arts Illustration Annual!