Originally from Germany's rural North Sea coast, not far from Bremen and the famous town musicians, Kim set aside her original trade as a furniture maker to attend art & design college.
She relocated to the beautiful media city of Cologne in her twenties, bringing her first big-city exhibitions and press. She was soon designing sets and costumes for theatre and opera. The passion for design and theatre soon became a full-time engagement.
In the late 90s, she met her husband. Joining him in San Francisco in 2001, she designed and worked on hundreds of theatre productions in the Bay Area and nationally, winning several awards for her designs.
Moving to Los Angeles in 2010 opened up opportunities to work in themed entertainment. She's worked with the biggest names in the entertainment industry including Walt Disney Imagineering, NBC Universal, and Universal Studios Japan.
Her TV work has included McDonald's, DreamWorks, Pepsi Cola, and L'Oreal.
Her TV work has included McDonald's, DreamWorks, Pepsi Cola, and L'Oreal.
Kim has been a fine art painter (kimatolmanfineart.com) since her teens with exhibits in Europe and the U.S. She paints large format and her abstract, expressive work emphasizes texture and color. She recently started a new direction, painting imaginary, moody, slightly surreal subject matter.
She is also the owner and creator of a contemporary art venue in greater Palm Springs called MAD.KAT Gallery.
SELECTED PRODUCTION DESIGN
Black & Positively Golden™ - Series - Dir. Rashid Mausi - McDonald's
Love Is Listening - Documentary - Dir. Michael Verde - Memory Bridge
Chat.Like.Love - TV Series - Dir. Eli Sokhn - DreamWorks Awesomeness TV
Reverse Aging Centre - Commercial - Dir. Joshua Lehnerd - Oceana Branding
Collectors Cafe - TV Show w/ Larry King - BiteSizeTV Hollywood
Metal Meltdown (Malibu Location) - Rockumentary - Rock Fuel Media
King Eternal - Film - Dir. Christiano Dias - Manowar Media
Pepsi (APD) - TV Commercial - Dir. Jake Nava
L'Oréal Feria (APD) - TV Commercial - Dir. Jake Nava
Hot Set - Reality Show - Dir. M. McNamara - SyFy Channel
The Weepies Pop Duo - US Acoustic Tour
Ultimate Proposal - Web Series - Dir. James Tooley - FishBowl/Yahoo!
L'Oreal Infallible (APD) - TV Commercial - Dir. Jake Nava
Love Is Listening - Documentary - Dir. Michael Verde - Memory Bridge
Chat.Like.Love - TV Series - Dir. Eli Sokhn - DreamWorks Awesomeness TV
Reverse Aging Centre - Commercial - Dir. Joshua Lehnerd - Oceana Branding
Collectors Cafe - TV Show w/ Larry King - BiteSizeTV Hollywood
Metal Meltdown (Malibu Location) - Rockumentary - Rock Fuel Media
King Eternal - Film - Dir. Christiano Dias - Manowar Media
Pepsi (APD) - TV Commercial - Dir. Jake Nava
L'Oréal Feria (APD) - TV Commercial - Dir. Jake Nava
Hot Set - Reality Show - Dir. M. McNamara - SyFy Channel
The Weepies Pop Duo - US Acoustic Tour
Ultimate Proposal - Web Series - Dir. James Tooley - FishBowl/Yahoo!
L'Oreal Infallible (APD) - TV Commercial - Dir. Jake Nava
SELECTED THEMED ENTERTAINMENT DESIGN
Super Nintendo World - Universal Studios Japan, Osaka, Japan
Fort Edmonton Park, Canada - John King Creative, NYC
Call of Duty XP & Championships - Entertainment Design Corporation, CA
Pandora - The World of Avatar - Walt Disney Imagineering, Glendale, CA
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Universal Studios Hollywood, CA
Museum Of The Bible, Washington D.C. - BRC Imagination Arts, Burbank, CA
Motiongate, Dubai - Rethink Attractions, Los Angeles, CA
IMG - Worlds of Adventure, Dubai - Rethink Attractions, Los Angeles, CA
Knotts Berry Farm - Rethink Attractions, Los Angeles, CA
Magic Planet, Dubai - BRC Imagination Arts, Burbank, CA
Super Nintendo World - Universal Studios Japan, Osaka, Japan
Fort Edmonton Park, Canada - John King Creative, NYC
Call of Duty XP & Championships - Entertainment Design Corporation, CA
Pandora - The World of Avatar - Walt Disney Imagineering, Glendale, CA
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Universal Studios Hollywood, CA
Museum Of The Bible, Washington D.C. - BRC Imagination Arts, Burbank, CA
Motiongate, Dubai - Rethink Attractions, Los Angeles, CA
IMG - Worlds of Adventure, Dubai - Rethink Attractions, Los Angeles, CA
Knotts Berry Farm - Rethink Attractions, Los Angeles, CA
Magic Planet, Dubai - BRC Imagination Arts, Burbank, CA
SELECTED SCENIC DESIGN
DIVA - United Stages - Leah Patterson, Los Angeles, CA
Grey Gardens (ASD) - Dir. Michael Wilson - Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
This Is How It Goes - Dir. Tom Ross - Aurora Theatre, Berkeley, CA
A Midsummer Night's Dream - Dir. Michael Butler - CenterREP, Walnut Creek, CA
Dracula - Dir. Michael Butler - CenterREP, Walnut Creek, CA
Cabaret - Dir. Bill English - San Francisco Playhouse, San Francisco, CA
Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge - Dir. Joy Carlin - SF Playhouse, San Francisco, CA
Buddy! - Buddy Holly Story (ASD) - Dir. Steven Moorer - Post Street Theatre, San Francisco, CA
A Moon For The Misbegotten - Dir. Josy Miller - Hapgood Theatre Company, CA
Richard III - Dir. Jon Tracy - Project Artaud Theater, San Francisco, CA
All My Sons - Dir. Susan E. Evans - Douglas Morrisson Theatre, Hayward, CA
Frozen - Dir. Susan E. Evans - Eastender's Repertory Company, Oakland, CA
Viaticum (World Premiere) - Dir. Helen Pau - Live Oak Theatre, Berkeley, CA
The People's Temple - Dir. Jennifer King - Napa Valley Theatre, CA
Firebugs - Dir. Rebecca Engle - LeFevre Theatre, Moraga, CA
The Epic Of Gilgamesh - Dir. George Charbak - Ashby Stage, Berkeley, CA
Show N Tell (World Premiere) - Dir. Stepp Stewart - Duke Ellington Theatre, Washington, DC
Grey Gardens (ASD) - Dir. Michael Wilson - Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
This Is How It Goes - Dir. Tom Ross - Aurora Theatre, Berkeley, CA
A Midsummer Night's Dream - Dir. Michael Butler - CenterREP, Walnut Creek, CA
Dracula - Dir. Michael Butler - CenterREP, Walnut Creek, CA
Cabaret - Dir. Bill English - San Francisco Playhouse, San Francisco, CA
Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge - Dir. Joy Carlin - SF Playhouse, San Francisco, CA
Buddy! - Buddy Holly Story (ASD) - Dir. Steven Moorer - Post Street Theatre, San Francisco, CA
A Moon For The Misbegotten - Dir. Josy Miller - Hapgood Theatre Company, CA
Richard III - Dir. Jon Tracy - Project Artaud Theater, San Francisco, CA
All My Sons - Dir. Susan E. Evans - Douglas Morrisson Theatre, Hayward, CA
Frozen - Dir. Susan E. Evans - Eastender's Repertory Company, Oakland, CA
Viaticum (World Premiere) - Dir. Helen Pau - Live Oak Theatre, Berkeley, CA
The People's Temple - Dir. Jennifer King - Napa Valley Theatre, CA
Firebugs - Dir. Rebecca Engle - LeFevre Theatre, Moraga, CA
The Epic Of Gilgamesh - Dir. George Charbak - Ashby Stage, Berkeley, CA
Show N Tell (World Premiere) - Dir. Stepp Stewart - Duke Ellington Theatre, Washington, DC
SELECTED OPERA DESIGN
La Boheme - Dir. Michael Shell - Opera San Jose
La Boheme - Dir. Timothy Near - Opera San Jose
La Boheme - Dir. David Cox - Opera San Jose
Die Zauberflote - Dir. Wolf Borchers - Opera Mobile, Cologne, Germany
Orpheus And Eurydike - Dir. Wolf Borchers - Opera Mobile, Cologne, Germany
La Boheme - Dir. Heather Carolo - San Francisco Lyric Opera
Tales Of Hoffman - Dir. Heather Carolo - San Francisco Lyric Opera
La Boheme - Dir. Michael Shell - Opera San Jose
La Boheme - Dir. Timothy Near - Opera San Jose
La Boheme - Dir. David Cox - Opera San Jose
Die Zauberflote - Dir. Wolf Borchers - Opera Mobile, Cologne, Germany
Orpheus And Eurydike - Dir. Wolf Borchers - Opera Mobile, Cologne, Germany
La Boheme - Dir. Heather Carolo - San Francisco Lyric Opera
Tales Of Hoffman - Dir. Heather Carolo - San Francisco Lyric Opera
SELECTED COMMERCIAL ART DIRECTION
Kraftwerk - Themed Architecture - Arson , Wil, Switzerland
Uzehalle / Eishalle - Arson, Wil, Switzerland
Cobb's Comedy Club - San Francisco CA
Esther's German Bakery - San Francisco Bay Area
MAD.KAT Gallery - Palm Springs, CA
Uzehalle / Eishalle - Arson, Wil, Switzerland
Cobb's Comedy Club - San Francisco CA
Esther's German Bakery - San Francisco Bay Area
MAD.KAT Gallery - Palm Springs, CA
HONORS & AWARDS
Experience Design & Technology Award Best Museum Design Environment, 2018 for
MUSEUM OF THE BIBLE, (as Art Director at BRC Imagination Arts)
Bay Area Critics Award Nomination for Best Scenic Design (Play), 2010 – DRACULA
Shellie Award for Best Scenic Design (Play), 2010 – DRACULA
Arty Award Nomination for Best Scenic Design (Musical), 2010 - THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE
Ellie Award for Best Scenic Design (Musical), 2009 - THE MUSIC MAN
Arty Award for Best Scenic Design (Musical), 2009 - THE MUSIC MAN
Arty Award Nomination for Best Scenic Design (Musical), 2009 - BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Arty Award Nomination for Best Scenic Design (Musical), 2008 - SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL
Arty Awards, Arty Award for Best Scenic Design (Musical), 2008 - THE WIZARD OF OZ
Shellie Award Nomination for Best Scenic Design (Musical), 2003 - THE MYSTERY OF
EDWIN DROOD
MUSEUM OF THE BIBLE, (as Art Director at BRC Imagination Arts)
Bay Area Critics Award Nomination for Best Scenic Design (Play), 2010 – DRACULA
Shellie Award for Best Scenic Design (Play), 2010 – DRACULA
Arty Award Nomination for Best Scenic Design (Musical), 2010 - THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE
Ellie Award for Best Scenic Design (Musical), 2009 - THE MUSIC MAN
Arty Award for Best Scenic Design (Musical), 2009 - THE MUSIC MAN
Arty Award Nomination for Best Scenic Design (Musical), 2009 - BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Arty Award Nomination for Best Scenic Design (Musical), 2008 - SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL
Arty Awards, Arty Award for Best Scenic Design (Musical), 2008 - THE WIZARD OF OZ
Shellie Award Nomination for Best Scenic Design (Musical), 2003 - THE MYSTERY OF
EDWIN DROOD
PUBLICATIONS
Google SketchUp Workshop: Modeling, Visualizing, and Illustrating.
Focal Press USA, December 2010. Case Study
Focal Press USA, December 2010. Case Study
Créez avec SketchUp: 16 projets, de l'architecture au théâtre.
Pearson Publishing France, November 2009. Case Study
Pearson Publishing France, November 2009. Case Study
MEMBERSHIPS
United Scenic Artists, Local 829, I.A.T.S.E
Themed Entertainment Association (TEA)
Themed Entertainment Association (TEA)