Meet Kim A. Tolman | Artist, Gallerist, Production Designer, Theatre Designer, Art Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kim A. Tolman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kim A., why did you decide to pursue a creative path?

It happened naturally. It had to. I grew up in rural, northern Germany in an absolutely non-artistic family and environment. That somehow was my first inspiration in a reversed kind of way.

I’m an artist because I need to be one – I have this inherent drive to make things. Whether it was climbing a tree to build a tree house or designing and stitching my own clothes, I needed to create.

Most of my life I’ve been an independent artist. I’ve tried, but I can’t fit into a regular work life. Art and design is my ikigai (Japanese for “life purpose.”)

This drive makes me want to learn and explore more and more every day. I get bored quickly and need to learn and find new inspiration every minute.

Being creative is just me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I started painting in my teens and apprenticed at an early age to become a journeyman carpenter/furniture maker.

My carpenter career was short-lived, but painting is something that has been with me all along.

I attended art & design college in Oldenburg while tending bar at night. I moved to Cologne and had my first exhibitions and soon fell into doing scenic design for
opera and theatre.

When I relocated to the SF Bay Area, my design career exploded. In a ten-year period, I designed over 200 sets, not just in the Bay Area, but all over the U.S. earning me several regional theatre nominations and awards. I am a member of United Scenic Artists, Local 829.

When I went south to LA in 2011, I received a call from a themed entertainment design company asking me if I would be interested in joining them in designing a theme park in Dubai. This led to ten years working for Disney, NBC Universal, and relocating to Japan to create for Universal Studios in Osaka.

When I returned to Southern California in 2018, I continued as an independent production designer and art director working for clients like McDonald’s, Dreamworks, L’Oreal, and Pepsi.

All along, I painted and dreamed of having more time to paint. Our move to Palm Springs two years ago brought not only more time to create but also the opportunity to pursue the dream of opening a gallery.

This past July, I opened MAD.KAT Gallery in Rancho Mirage, not only as a venue for my work, but as a platform for artists with a fresh perspective with six to eight themed exhibitions per year. We are definitely shaking up the local scene.

I am extremely excited by my new role as a gallerist. Finding artists has become my new passion and it has actually been incredibly inspiring for my own work.

MAD.KAT has its first group show and grand opening called in-ter-con-nec-tion on October 21 during Palm Springs Fall Modernism. It’s 15 international, U.S., and California artists. Cities such as Madrid, Athens, NYC, San Francisco, Cairo, and Tokyo are represented. Many of the artists are ones that my husband and I met on our travels.

And after the beginning of the year, we have three great shows: Hollywood Cool: the 50s, 60s & 70s celebrity photography of John R. Hamilton starting during Modernism Week in February, Sound & Vision: musicians who are also visual artists beginning in March, and Playful in April, which features sculpture, textile art, mixed media and painting that range from pure whimsy to something quite dark.

I work mostly in oil and acrylic. Until recently, my painting could be called abstract expressionism, but lately, I find myself doing much more representational work and I am excited to see where it leads me. My latest series is called “California Noir.”

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Monday – Palm Springs Aerial Tramway: There can be a thirty degree difference between Palm Springs and the top of San Jacinto. So in the summer it’s a great cool off and in the winter and spring, it’s a winter wonderland with snow that lasts until June. There’s miles and miles of hiking trails and an incredible view of the entire Coachella Valley.

– Lunch: French Miso Cafe in Palm Springs. This cute little bistro tucked away in the historic La Plaza in downtown is run by a French chef and his Japanese wife, who do an amazing job of melding the food cultures. Great wine list too!

– Palm Springs Art Museum: the town is blessed with a fine museum, so after lunch it only makes sense to stroll over. Passing under the legs of the giant Marilyn Monroe statue is optional.

– Drinks at Las Palmas: yes, they are a brew pub and the beers are tasty, but the real attraction is that they pour natural and organic, wild fermented wines. Yum!

– Dinner: we like to cook, so maybe it’s something from the grill or we fire up the pizza oven.

Tuesday
– Breakfast: Farm in downtown’s La Plaza has a tasty French leaning menu and pleasant outdoor courtyard.

– Hike: so many beautiful spots, it’s hard to pick one: Tahquitz Canyon, Indian Canyons, Morongo Valley Preserve, Whitewater are just a few.

– Drinks & Dinner: It’s fun to eat at the bar at Mr. Lyons, an old school steakhouse. They serve up a great happy hour martini, then slip over to the adjoining Seymour’s for a Paper Plane or other cocktail.

Wednesday
– Road Trip to the High Desert: spend the day kicking around Pioneertown, Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, and 29 Palms. A must stop is outdoor museum of Noah Purifoy, the grandfather of assembly art.

– Lunch: Kitchen in the Desert in 29 Palms. This is a very cool, rustic and unexpected gem at the end of civilization on Highway 62. Great cocktails too!

– Drinks: Poolside at the 29 Palms Inn, which is located in the Oasis of Mara, a truly magical, relaxing place. The atmosphere and the heat cause the stress to melt away.

– Dinner: Spaghetti Western in Morongo Valley. Stop in on our way back down the hill to Palm Springs at this Italian restaurant and music venue open by a couple from Rome to showcase not only their culinary skills but their Americana music act as well.

Thursday
– Movie Matinee at Mary Pickford Theater in Cathedral City. Check out one of the latest Hollywood releases from the comfort of your own reclining lounger for less than ten bucks. A great escape on a hot day.

– Dinner at Paul Bar/Food: tucked away in a rundown strip mall on the east side of PS is a blacked out store front. Open the door and you immediately transported to a swank, old school NYC bar populated by waiters and bartenders in white shirts and bow ties. Owner/host Paul meets you at the door and leads you to your seat. Go early at 4pm or late to be assured a seating.

Friday
-Living Desert Zoo: who would ever have guessed that there is an outstanding zoo and botanical garden in Palm Desert. It’s beautifully designed and they are always adding new areas and animals. There’s even hiking trails back into the desert.

– Shopping: head back to PS to visit The Shops at Thirteen Forty Five. There are fourteen very cool shops in this flamingo pink architectural landmark ranging from clothing to decor to patio and more, including James Bacchi Contemporary, which might be the Valley’s smallest art gallery and is certainly one of the coolest.

Saturday
– Vintage Market: this is a monthly outdoor gathering of vintage vendors with an emphasis on Midcentury Modern. The Tiki Market happens a few times a year in the same location.

– Wine Tasting: hyphen- is a small wine shop that specializes in natural, organic, and wild fermented wines. Opened by a New Yorker who grew up in the restaurant business, it has a fine selection and often has educational (and delicious) tastings.

Sunday
– Art at MAD.KAT Gallery in Rancho Mirage: I may be not very objective on this but MAD.KAT brings a much needed breath of fresh air to the greater Palm Springs art scene.

– Dinner: Sunday Sushi at Musashi in Palm Desert. I’ve loved sushi since my first time decades ago, but having lived for a time in Japan, my preference leans heavily towards the traditional. Musashi certainly fits the bill.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

Since I relocated to the U.S. in 2001, California has been a constant inspiration. Not only its vibrant art and culture, but also just the land itself. California really does have it all. And there are few places that have such diverse,
natural beauty.

I’ve met a lot of fascinating and talented people on my professional journey and each has inspired or taught me in some way. There really has been too many to list, but the constants have been an emotionally supportive mother and husband, who are always willing to be there.

Website: https://gallerymadkat.com https://kimtolmandesign.com https://www.kimatolmanart.com

Instagram: @kimatolmanart @mad.kat_gallery @fishcandy_patterndesign

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimatolmandesign/

Facebook: @kim.a.tolman @mad.kat.gallery @KimATolmanDesign

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mad-kat-gallery-rancho-mirage

Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5271167/ https://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/kimatolmandesignstudios https://www.flickr.com/people/madkatgallery/

Image Credits
Michael Mangold Russ Tolman