Kate, For You

Marie Tomanova

The book Kate, For You is focused on a single person, Kate. Marie Tomanova met Kate in June 2017, to take photographs in Kate’s apartment in Brooklyn, where she lived with her new kitten Cashew and her girlfriend Odie. Until then, Tomanova only knew Kate from social media and that she was Czech living in New York City, something they both shared. She deeply identified with Kate on that afternoon and shot one 36-exposure roll of film in the bathroom, which resulted in the widely circulated image, Kate and Odie (2017).

Kate, For You offers a glimpse at Tomanova's continued work with Kate from 2017 to the present, working in the longitudinal manner of creating an extended portraiture over time. It is a meditation on the act of portraiture itself—how it evolves, how it deepens over time, and how it reflects not just the photographed, but the photographer as well. Tomanova’s work with Kate has become a touchstone for her practice, a lens through which she explores themes of identity, connection, and the passage of time. This book invites viewers into the quiet moments of their ongoing partnership, allowing them to witness how the dynamic between photographer and subject shifts and grows as years pass.

The book shows Tomanova’s experimenting with different forms and highlights her unique ability to build and maintain a sustained narrative over time. Each photograph tells a part of the larger story of Kate’s life, but also serves as a window into Tomanova’s evolving perspective as an artist.

Upcoming book launches:

Brno, Moravská Gallery, April 17th, 2025 at 7pm
Prague, Fotograf Gallery, April 23rd, 2025 at 7pm
New York City, Dashwood Books, June 12th, 2025

We've prepared two tipped-in cover photos for you to choose from—select your favorite!

From the book Kate, For You by Marie Tomanova, Untitled publishing

The heart of this book is this complete roll of film, in its original sequence, never seen before, and presented as one work, First Roll, Kate and Odie (2025). It stands as a powerful testament to Tomanova's openness and transparency as a photographer. First Roll is a sequence of moments that closely connect with one another; it is cinematic, but it is also still. There is an intimacy and closeness. The mediation between photographic and cinematic (filmic)—between single image and sequence—allows for a complex picture of the experience of that afternoon in 2017 to become more than just visible, but tangible.

Kate, For You speaks to the idea of portraiture as a collaborative effort. It is not simply about capturing a single moment in time, but about engaging in a continual dialogue. The book stands as a testament to Tomanova’s belief in the importance of human connection and emotional resonance in her work. It reminds us that a photograph is more than just a static image—it’s an artifact of a relationship, a shared experience, and a personal journey.

Ultimately, Kate, For You is a celebration of Tomanova’s ongoing exploration of identity, intimacy, and the creative process. It offers a glimpse into the artist’s world and invites us to reflect on the complex, sometimes fleeting, but always meaningful moments that shape our lives.