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Sculptors have clay. Painters have paint. Alejandra Villanueva and Brian Carroll have cotton candy. But they aren't just swirling up clouds of the pink stuff and calling it a day. Their fluffy creations are certainly eye-catching, spinning the likes of SpongeBob Squarepants, Bluey and famous Pokémon characters.
“We love cotton candy because it’s nostalgic, magical and fun—it’s also a really interesting artistic medium,” said Carroll.
Villanueva and Carroll are the founders of Fluffy Algodón, a Colombian-born confectionery known for whimsical cotton-candy animals and cartoon character creations. And it all started because of a simple love of sweets. While working as an architect, Villanueva started selling cotton candy as a weekend project. But as her cutesy unicorn and pig designs gained a following and she officially founded Fluffy Algodón in 2019. Alongside Carroll, the two brought their sweets to New York in 2021, working the street fair circuit and private parties. Brands soon caught whiff of their magical creations, and now the confectionery has been attached to Sephora, Netflix and Hello Kitty. Ever the creatives, the makers of Fluffy Algodón have been quick to tap into cultural trends, whipping up New York’s unofficial mascot, Pizza Rat, and even recreating a pint-sized Bad Bunny for the Super Bowl.
“Some of our most intricate sculptures take the longest to perfect,” said Carroll, citing that the Bad Bunny dessert took 30 minutes to complete. “We constantly look for ways to perfect the art, proportions and textures.
And now, Fluffy Algodón will be bringing its edible art to Manhattan. Starting March 4, the confectionery will officially be at Time Out Market New York, Union Square. Guests can check out the standalone cart for signature sculptures, whimsical and colorful characters included.
“We continuously introduce new pieces and seasonal accessories to keep the experience exciting and ever-evolving,” said Carroll.