Resuscitation, Oil and Acrylic on women’s clothing and accessories on wood.
The work of artistKate Tovanot only challenges the limits of painting but also its narrative possibilities.
Tova’s creations mirror the evolution of one’s personality and relationship with the world across our lifetimes.
“Resuscitation,” Oil and Acrylic on women’s clothing and accessories on wood.
Read on for Kate Tova’s interview with My Modern Met.
Deep Under, Oil and Acrylic on men’s clothing.
How did your painting journey begin?
“Deep Under,” Oil and Acrylic on men’s clothing.
Some wonderful creative things come out of that.
I almost died as a child, which made me appreciate the beauty of life early on.
I was a mature kid with big dreams.
“Unbreakable,” Oil and Acrylic on Broken cups and plates, forks, butter knives, spoons, table cloth, mounted on 36 inch wood table top.
I painted during all my free time, which seemed lame to my friends who wanted to party non-stop.
All I wanted was to create non-stop.
What inspires your compositions and the themes you focus on?
“Pastel Rose Glitch”
Heaven is a place on Earth, as Belinda Carlisle famously sings.
I want to inspire people to protect and preserve the environment.
We could do so much good with our big brains and opposable thumbs.
“Synesthesia Glitch,” oil and acrylic on canvas.
Disconnection is the problem.
This is the most recent theme that Im exploring.
In the modern, fast-paced world, we often disconnect.
“Trash Pansy,” Oil and Acrylic on 40 plastic bags, and fake eyelashes mounted on wood.
Connection with nature is healing, and I think we are just starting to understand it.
Pastel Rose Glitch
Synesthesia Glitch, oil and acrylic on canvas.
What does your creative process look like?
“Another Love,” Oil and Acrylic on two books
Walks in nature, reading, and traveling are the perfect trio for generating ideas.
Once inspiration strikes, I turn to sketching and writing to give the concept shape.
As Glennon Doyle insightfully notes, before imagination becomes 3-dimensional, it usually needs to become 2-dimensional.
“Courage Glitch,” mixed media on canvas.
Its impossible to keep all the ideas in my head.
When I feel stagnant, or my mind heads to dark places, intense workouts are my rescue.
Sometimes, I need to twist my own arm to do it.
Kate Tova and Toochi in the studio.
A long hike or surfing are my top choices.
Then, the process flows, and painting truly feels like meditation.
Trash Pansy, Oil and Acrylic on 40 plastic bags, and fake eyelashes mounted on wood.
“Breathe,” 36×36, oil and acrylic on wood
When and how did you begin integrating texture into your canvases?
I studied at a traditional art academy with strict rules.
I was absolutely not allowed to use mixed media, bright colors, or even pure black paint.
“Overcoming,” Oil and acrylic on five dresses, bra, wig, tights, sunglasses, scrunchies, belt, hairbrush, earrings, cream, and brooch, mounted on wood.
Breaking those rules felt rebellious and liberating.
They were so hard to break that it took me years to just try.
The move to New Orleans was a turning point.
Artist Kate Tova in front of “Rebirth Glitch.”
I was really inspired by the local culture, vibrancy, and all the bling of the carnivals.
I started incorporating sequin fabric, glitter, and rhinestones and just having fun with the process.
Id leave my paintings under the rain, mix soil with paints, and make brushes out of plants.
They are all about energy.
I experimented with different ways of expressing that energy visually.
Thats when I started carving wood and making my artworks more sculptural.
Is there a message or intention behind this choice?
We get so much very short-lived pleasure from buying stuff.
Though youd never hear a good doctor recommending retail therapy.
I think its insane how much fast fashion clothes and single-use plastic humans currently buy… mountains of it.
I feel obligated to educate and send the right message to the public, to inspire.
Ive already started my vegetable garden to learn the basics!
Courage Glitch, mixed media on canvas.
Kate Tova and Toochi in the studio.
Is there a particular painting you’re more proud of, or that is your favorite?
I love the recent piece titledResuscitationthat I painted last summer at SVA residency in NYC.
Manhattan was probably one of the best places to explore our connection/disconnection with nature.
A few local women donated their no-longer-needed items to me.
The artworks canvas is made out of clothing and accessories that one woman can wear at once.
Its a treasure hunt for the eyes of the viewer to find all the elements.
Who would have thought that a high heel with straps would make a nice-looking plant?
Lately, Ive been obsessed with painting wild humans covered in plants and flowers.
Challenges make art fun.
I love getting an unusual idea and then obsessing over how to bring it to life.
I do a ton of tests with different media to figure out how they behave on various surfaces.
The number of choices available to artists is incredibly overwhelming these days.
Artist Kate Tova in front of Rebirth Glitch.
What do you hope people will take away from your art?
I want viewers to see that anything is possible if you set your mind to it.
Bringing your ideas to lifebe it painting or solving the worlds pollution issuesrequires determination.
Both could require a fight, whether external or internal.
Human nature is so complex.
I hope my art will inspire people to reconnect with nature and protect our paradisethe planet Earth.
