About

The Cotton Candy Machine is a fine art archival print publisher and online gallery for select contemporary artists, founded by Tara McPherson and Sean Leonard in 2011. All of our archival pigment prints are produced right here in our studio in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania using 100% clean energy. We print on the highest quality etching and watercolor papers made in France, Germany and the USA. Our serigraphs are produced with a variety of print houses in the USA as well.

We began as a storefront gallery and art boutique from 2011 to 2016 in a former fire department in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn NY. The Cotton Candy Machine held a variety of art exhibitions, workshops, and events by a plethora of contemporary artists, curated by Tara McPherson. It then transitioned into a thriving online store and print publisher in 2017, serving as Tara McPherson's official print shop, publishing archival fine art editions, selling limited edition art prints, posters, apparel, books, toys and more. All the while holding onto its roots and continuing to do pop up shops and events all over the world. See our gallery pics and videos from the Brooklyn gallery HERE.

Some of the artists we have worked with include Alex Pardee, Buff Monster, Daniel Danger, Miss Van, Esao Andrews, Junko Mizuno, Dave Cooper, Aya Kakeda, Skinner, John Baizley, Arik Roper, L'Amour Supreme, Lindsey Way, Dime Drjuchin, Diana Sudyka, Travis Louie, Jermaine Rogers, Paul Romano, Jessica Addams, David M Cook, Scott C, Lori Nelson, Mike Egan, Michael Koehler, Jeremy Hush, Jon Burgerman, Jeremyville, Glenn Barr, Jay Ryan, and many more.

Our name takes its inspiration from the main element in paper and apparel, cotton. Next mix it in with artistic creativity for some captivating eye candy. Then finally the play on words comes together just like the sweet namesake's magic making machine, and we have... The Cotton Candy Machine!

Picture above by Jessie English