Born Kim Assing in Jever, Germany, she became interested in art and design as a young teen, which coincided with her involvement with punk rock.
"[6] In 1996, after a short career as a restaurateur in the seaside village of Schillig, Tolman moved to Cologne, Germany, where she continued her painting, holding several exhibitions.
She also worked as production designer at NBCUniversal Creative on The Wizarding World of Harry Potter for the company's Universal Studios Hollywood theme park.
Tolman designed the stage set for popular indie pop-folk duo The Weepies for their summer 2011 acoustic tour.
In 2022 with a move to Palm Springs, Tolman shifted her professional focus back toward fine art painting that emphasizes her expressionistic, abstract use of color and texture.
[18] In 2023, she opened MAD.KAT Gallery in nearby Rancho Mirage, with the aim of bringing international, national and local artists with a fresh perspective to greater Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley.