Original artwork

12″ x 12″

Mixed media on wood

Maskerade 2020

My new series features recognizable figures, past and present, through the lens of the COVID-19 zeitgeist. I used flamboyant multimedia masks adorning black-and-white portraits as a playful exploration of (CDC-compliant) identity and individualism. I found it remarkable how people remained recognizable with half of their faces covered, and had a lot of fun designing unique ideas for the masks. I used a comically broad range of multimedia including amethyst geodes, disassembled Mac parts, paper butterflies, hand-made brooches, golf leaf, feathers, and much more. The series represents a moment in time and transforms a depressing symbol of pandemic life into something extravagant and celebratory. Welcome to the Maskerade!

About the Artist

Kate Tova is a full-time contemporary artist currently living and working in San Francisco. In her recent work, she experiments with vibrant, large-scale multimedia artworks, incorporating reflective mediums and think textures.

Kate was born in the small riverside town of Balakovo, Russia. As a child, she demonstrated early virtuosity in visual arts and soon moved to Moscow to expand her opportunities in the busy capital. Her constant urge to create and experiment won her recognition across Russia, Europe and the United States. In 2015 she moved to New Orleans, where she began working as a full-time artist. After four bright and successful years in the Big Easy, she moved once more to San Francisco.