For naming Tom of Finland Foundation as one of the three designated charities and donating to us a portion of the proceeds of Los Angeles Leather Pride 2014.

More on TOM's Blog.

Posted 01/23/2015

November 2014 cover of Wallpaper*

The Tom of Finland Foundation has opened the doors of its LA headquarters to Wallpaper* for a special 13-page feature in the magazine's November issue.

Touko Laaksonen (aka Tom of Finland) was the most influential homoerotic artist of the 20th century. Across a 50-year career, Tom created thousands of drawings of muscle-bound, bulgingly priapic sailors, soldiers, cops, cowboys, bikers and lifeguards. His pictures delight in the sheen of leather boots and motorcycle jackets and in the snug fit of sailor trousers and muscle shirts.

The Foundation is devoted to preserving his legacy, as well as supporting a wider range of erotic art. Pieces from its 3,500-strong permanent collection are displayed to form the decor throughout the 17-room residence that was Tom's base from 1980 until 1991 and remains home to Foundation president Durk Dehner and vice-president SR Sharp.

While unapologetically pornographic, the Foundation is a celebration of Tom of Finland's work and – with some of the artist's pieces shown at Art Basel earlier this year – has raised the status of the homoerotic to high art.

The full article (by Richard Meyer), with photography by artist Jack Pierson, is published in the November issue of Wallpaper*, on sale from Monday 13 October 2014.

About Wallpaper*

Truly international, consistently intelligent and hugely influential, Wallpaper* is the world's most important design and style magazine. Wallpaper* has readers in 93 countries and has unparalleled success in reaching the design elite right across the globe. With 12 themed issues a year, a limited-edition cover by a different artist or designer each month, over 1.06 million Twitter followers and a monthly iPad edition, Wallpaper* has evolved from style bible to internationally recognised brand.

More on TOM's Blog.

Posted 10/21/2014

S. Sharp and John Palatinus in 2010

Foundation has recently received word that John Palatinus (1929-2014) has passed away due to a heart attack in Palm Springs.

He was the last of the pioneering photographers from the 1950s golden era of physique photography.

John was a good friend and member of the Foundation. His work can be viewed at TOM House.

More on TOM's Blog.

Posted 10/02/2014

thanks

for their continued support
and proceeds from
Queer Art Expo

You couldn’t ask for better friends.

Credit: Itella Posti Artwork: TOM OF FINLAND © 1979, 1978 Tom of Finland Foundation

Tom of Finland Foundation is pleased to announce that Itella Posti Oy has released the Tom of Finland stamps on Monday, September 8th. The historical sheet of three stamps has raised immense interest worldwide and has been available for preorder from Posti’s online shop since April, with record breaking sales.

A limited quantity of the stamp sheets, as well as a gift pack that includes three post cards, are now available exclusively for sale in the United States through the Tom of Finland Foundation website, with proceeds benefiting the Foundation.

The three 1st class stamps were coordinated by Solja Järvenpää of Arts Promotion Centre Finland; Susanna Luoto and Durk Dehner of Tom of Finland Foundation; and Timo Berry of Finnish design agency BOTH.

Purchase your Tom of Finland stamps from Tom of Finland Foundation.

Posted 09/08/14

This year, the Tom of Finland Art Fair returns to TOM House, the iconic property where it has been held in earlier years.

The Art Fair will showcase more than 30 artists, both emerging and established, from the USA and beyond. Workshops and panel discussions will be held, and artwork – spanning sculpture, photography, paintings, sketches, digital renderings and more – will be for sale.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to tour TOM House, including the attic space that served as Tom of Finland’s bedroom and studio.

Artists can register for this event by clicking HERE.

Learn more about the Art Fair on our Events page.

An excerpt from Tom of Finland's war journal has appeared in a new book that literally lays bare intimate moments shared by servicemen during World War II.

During the war, soldiers were encouraged to establish close "buddy" relationships for emotional support. Recently released by art book publisher TASCHEN, My Buddy: World War II Laid Bare features photos of these intimate buddy relationships from an archive collected by Los Angeles photographer Michael Stokes, along with texts by writers such as Gore Vidal.

Featured on pages 26 and 27 of the book are excerpts from Tom of Finland's journal of his 1940-1944 military service, which is held by Tom of Finland Foundation. Tom's contribution to My Buddy is from page 10 of his journal and it includes a photo (c. 1942) that Tom took of Finnish soldiers bathing. Tom captioned this photo "Mainiolla uimarannalla", which translates into English as "Ideally the Beach".

Tom's inclusion in My Buddy is fitting: the intimacy and rapport of the men in My Buddy readily reminds us of the buddy bonds formed among "TOM's Men". In viewing the book's images of homosocial bonding (much of it involving naked horseplay), we are reminded not only of Tom's iconic homoerotic drawings of men in uniform, but the naked "tomfoolery" among all of Tom's men.

My Buddy is edited by Dian Hanson, who has also edited various Taschen publications of Tom's work (including the 666-page, extra large format collection Tom of Finland XXL).

Discover more about this book on TASCHEN's website.

Posted 08/27/14

COVER ART: TOM OF FINLAND, Untitled (From "Jukka's Horny Adventure", recreated by Sean Platter – studio splatter, 2014), 1957, Pen & ink on paper

“The mere mention of the name 'Tom of Finland' has always brought a smile to people's faces and, with this in mind, it is with great pleasure that we partner with Like Publishing in bringing to Finland this special book of Tom's comics with their original Finnish text. To the best of our knowledge, several of these stories have never before been published.

“We dedicate this compendium to those mentioned here and everyone else in Finland who has, and will carry, the banner of pride associated with the name and legacy of this amazing Finn. His artistic and social legacy continues to influence and transform culture worldwide.”

— Durk Dehner, President and Cofounder,
Tom of Finland Foundation

Learn more on TOM's Blog.

Posted 08/25/14

We are grateful for the donation and congratulate CLAW on its 14 years of generosity! The Foundation is very appreciative for CLAW’s continued support and assistance in the furtherance of our goals.

We are able to keep our doors open to the public and have a small administrative staff through the generosity of our members and supporters. Your gift demonstrates your support of TOM and his Foundation, and we are thankful.

CLAW Corp. is a certified 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation dedicated to fundraising, education, volunteerism and all other charitable needs of the adult leather community.

Learn more about CLAW and the Cleveland Leather Annual Weekend.

Posted 08/13/14

Great supporters, great volunteers and great guests equaled a great party!

We thank each and every one of you for making this a REAL celebration of TOM!

Artists: RICK CASTRO, E. SALVADOR HERNANDEZ, MICHAEL KIRWAN, STUART SANDFORD and HECTOR SILVA

Thank you to MIGUEL ANGEL REYES for conducting the Drawing Workshop, taking great pictures and sharing his beautiful renderings. Please say thank you to our hosts, sponsors and great friends!

See more photos on TOM's Blog

Posted 05/28/14

© 2014 STUART SANDFORD, Model: Brent Corrigan

Stuart Sandford is offering prints of Brent Corrigan taken at TOM House with 25% of the sale of each portfolia going directly to Tom of Finland Foundation. 6 x C-type prints, 12 x 10 inches each, printed on Kodak Professional Endura Paper, edition of 50. Signed, dated, and numbered on the reverse of each print. There are other options as well.

“This series was taken of Brent at the beginning of May in the TOM House garden using my trusty old Yashica T-5 35mm camera, which is the camera I’ve been using since way back in 2004. This shoot is the first proper shoot I’ve done with a model since 2011 and Brent was a whole lot of fun to work with.”

— Stuart Sandford

Learn more on TOM's Blog.

Posted 06/17/14

© 1988 Tom of Finland Foundation

The feature film about Tom of Finland is starting principal photography in 2015 with a 2016 delivery date.

The compelling story about Tom is being made into a live action film. The picture will be directed by Dome Karukoski and produced by Aleksi Bardy. The production company Helsinki-filmi has licensed the exclusive rights to the use of Tom's art and the Tom of Finland name for use in the film.

The film's language is English.

Posted 05/28/14

Photo: Dusti Cunningham

Just wanted to say an extra SPECIAL THANKS to everyone who helped out to make TOM’s birthday party such a special night:

Brent Corrigan, Jeff Neff, Patrick Staff, Alex La Cruz, Matthew Mullins, Rod Reynolds Dusti Cunningham, Miguel Angel Reyes and Jordan Frink.

Great to see so many people as well as lots of new faces and a whole bunch of hot young guys at TOM House too. See y’all next year!

— Stuart Sandford

See more photos on TOM's Blog

Posted 05/28/14

Photo: Miguel Angel Reyes

Fantastic job byJordan Frink, Mr. Sister Leather 2014; Glen Alen, award-winning artist; and an enthusiastic cast of TOM’s Men.

Thank you to everyone involved: Xavier O. Espejo, Sean Jake, Luis Paul Canales, Christopher Jones, Christopher Paul, Thomas Trafelet, Gabriel Green, Matthew Mullins, Jon Vaz Gar, Stuart Sandford, Jeff Neff, Rod Reynolds, Christian Matthews and Josh G.

We also raised money for The Grant Park Foundation, whose goal is feeding the community and helping those in need. Every Monday night in Pasadena’s Grant Park, volunteers bring dinner and a packed lunch for the next day, to about about 100 of those less-fortunate.

Terrific Photos on TOM's Blog

Posted 05/07/14

Aarno Nurmi by Tom of Finland

Finland is preparing to release stamps with Tom of Finland's artwork. But who was the model used for these drawings?

Aarno Nurmi was Tom of Finland’s all-time favorite Finnish model. He lived in Finland as a young man, but like Touko, Aarno found opportunities and then moved to New York.

". . .Tom decided to use another one of his longtime modeling buddies Aarno as the prototype for Pekka. Aarno, a happy-go-lucky exhibitionist, had a grand time playing the role, dressing up in breeches, boots, and hat for Tom to photograph. . ."

Tom of Finland – Life and Work of a Gay Hero
by F. Valentine Hooven III

More on TOM's Blog

Image: TOM OF FINLAND (Touko Laaksonen, Finnish, 1920 – 1991), Untitled (Aarno), 1976, Silver gelatin print, ToFF #9073, © 1976 Tom of Finland Foundation

Posted 05/05/2014

A Day to Celebrate!

Wherever you are – bar, tavern, pub, saloon, lounge, taphouse or watering hole – or meeting, gathering or group - raise a glass, enjoy yourselves and be sexy with absolutely no shame or guilt – TOM style!

If you are in Los Angeles, join us at TOM House for a Special Party 7:00 to 10:00 PM.

Image: TOM OF FINLAND (Touko Laaksonen, Finnish, 1920 – 1991), Untitled (Preparatory drawing), 1968, Graphite on paper, ToFF #0052, © 1968 Tom of Finland Foundation

Posted 05/05/2014

Stuart and new friend

Stuart Sandford is currently staying at Tom of Finland Foundation in Los Angeles. Stuart would like to meet you, and you can view his work here. Please email him and say “hello”.

Stuart’s a young artist we met in London who works with the male form and is creating a series of statues titled Sebastian that is inspired by the myth of Narcissus, and Antinous (Emperor Hadrian’s lover).

You can find out more about him on TOM's Blog.

Posted 04/23/2014

Tom's Art on 1st Class Postage

On September 8th, 2014 the Finnish postal service will release a set of postage stamps in Finland to honor the most famous Finnish artist in the world, Tom of Finland, creator of some of the most iconic imagery of Western gay culture. Designed by Finnish graphic artist Timo Berry working with Susanna Luoto, the Finnish representative of Tom of Finland Foundation in Finland.

Tom of Finland produced more than 3,500 images during his career. The ones appearing on the stamp sheet are untitled, graphite on paper and date from 1978 and ’79. The launch of the stamps coincides with the inauguration of an exhibition, Sealed With A Secret – Correspondence of Tom of Finland, which opens at the Postal Museum in Tampere, Finland on September 8.

“These are very exciting times in Finland as the country rediscovers one of its national heroes. The stamp, the exhibition, new books and the film on Tom of Finland by Helsinki-Filmi will reveal all the layers of the artist and his amazing contributions to the world.” — Durk Dehner, president and cofounder, ToFF.

PRI audio article transcript on TOM's Blog.

Here's an interview with stamp's designer Timo Berry in cooperation with the Tom of Finland Foundation‘s Finnish representative Susanna Luoto.

A petition demanding the stamp be called off has now launched, and has so far gathered over 2,000 signatures.

Stamps may be pre-ordered here.

Posted 04/17/2014

PHOTO: Diana Lundin

Garilyn had a heart attack 8th April while on dialysis.

Garilyn Brune’s art dealer, Michael Feder, reports his art is safe, protected — and will continue to blossom in the world.

Garilyn was the grand prize winner of the Foundation's 1995 Emerging Erotic Artist Contest with his very controversial entry Cock Suckers for Christ. The work spurred responses from Wales to New South Wales, letters as much as five pages long, covering the whole range of possible opinions. It is routinely on display at TOM House and was exhibited at ONE Gallery in 2011.

More on TOM's Blog.

Posted 04/10/2014

PHOTO: MotorBoot Photography

OMG, they really ARE Angels! TOM’s Foundation, with the utmost sincerity, thanks The Los Angeles Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence with the assiduity of Sr. Hanna Barbearic for TOM’s Angels 2014.

Thanks also to Los Angeles Band of Brothers, Pistons and all the artists and sponsors who contributed to this event.We hope everyone who came had a good time. Thanks for coming and we’ll see ya next year!

More photos on TOM's Blog.

PHOTO: MotorBoot Photography

Our congratulations to Eric Paul Leue, the new Mr. LA Leather.

The culmination of L.A. Leather Pride 2014, Building the Bonds of Brotherhood, Eric will be a contestant at International Mr. Leather.

Expanded image on the right: Marc Ransdell-Bellenger, Durk Dehner, Mr. L.A. Leather, S.R. Sharp.

More on TOM's Blog.

Upper image: TOM OF FINLAND © 1970 Tom of Finland Foundation, lower image: Miguel Angel Reyes.

Tableaux Vivant at TOM House made for an exceptional afternoon. Thank you to everyone who came and for the cast who did an amazing job. Everyone brought a remarkable presence and energy to the event - making it overwhelmingly exceptional.

Thank you to our sponsors: 665 Leather & Fetish Company and Wet. And special thanks to Windon Newton and Rene Salas for their special contributions. A big thank you to Miguel Angel Reyes for the photographs and your guidance with the artists. Hands together for hostess Daphne Von Rey.

Mr. Sister Leather presented us a perfect tribute to TOM with his Tableaux Vivant.

More photos on TOM's Blog

Hudson's Feature Inc presented Tom's art.

Tom of Finland Foundation and Feature Inc are the same age. The gallery represented the artist, first during the last years of his career, and presently for ToFF. Hudson shares in Tom’s legacy by helping place his works in museums and putting many people face-to-face with his original artwork for the first time.

“In 1984 Tom brought 1,500 rough sketches from Finland to store at the Foundation. He never thought they were worthwhile outside of his archives. But I went “oh my god, these are amazing”. So immediately, I sent copies of them to our gallery in New York, Feature gallery. Hudson is an amazing man, and did so much for Tom. Hudson exhibited Tom along with artists that he inspired like G. B. Jones. He also exhibited Martin of Holland, who made drawings of scat play. He exhibited all of them in his gallery in SoHo and he never put up an explanation or a sign. This fucking sign shit. Trying to prevent someone from being offended…”

— Durk Dehner, Sex Magazine, 2014

The one, and only one Hudson, forever.

There will be a private funeral and arrangements are being made for a memorial service in the Spring.

Posted 02/14/2014

Finland meets Finland in LA. Consul General of Finland, Los Angeles, Juha Markkanen and his wife visit the Bob Mizer & Tom of Finland exhibition with Aleksi Bardy, Dome Karukoski, and Jasper Pääkkönen from Helsinki-filmi (makers of the Tom of Finland film) at The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in West Hollywood at the Pacific Design Center (on ToFF’s 29th birthday).

More on TOM's Blog.

Posted 12/23/2013

Yuletide Carolers

Thanks to all the Volunteers who pitched in and volunteered for our volunteer party!!

Special thanks to Harry Schlager, Yuletide Carolers, The Boobé Sisters and DJ RocketManLA.

Hands together for Tom Pardoe, Matthew Mullins and the wicked crew from Santaland (which is in Finland, of course) and Oxballs for the xtra good stuffing.

And we certainly appreciate the evenings hosts: Daphne Von Rey, Pup Niko, Toni Rodriguez and culinary genius Michael Kirwan.

Thank you to Lorenzo Gomez for the photos. See them on TOM's Blog!

Posted 12/23/2013

The logo TOM designed for his Foundation. © TOM of FINLAND, 1989, ORIGINAL © RICHARD CERBARANO 1989, DERIVATIVE WORK

TOM’s Foundation Was Born on 14th December 1984. So, we’re only 29…

By 1984, Durk Dehner decided the time had come to focus on his goal, an altruistic one. He wanted to start a nonprofit Tom of Finland organization, one which would be free of commercial aspects and able to concentrate on preserving Tom’s art and enhancing his reputation.

"Durk was sure that people would support such a preservation effort, but I didn’t think so. They were just my old ‘dirty drawings’ to me. He got to me through my pride; I did want to be respectable. I even went one whole year not doing any pornographic stuff at all, just serious art. I didn’t sell anything so I gave up. People knew me for my erotic work and that was what they wanted — and my cock agreed!"

— Touko Laaksonen (Tom of Finland)
from Tom of Finland – Life and Work of a Gay Hero

The first goal of the newly formed Tom of Finland Foundation (ToFF) was to offer a safe haven for the original drawings, which were scattered all over the globe. At that time, Tom estimated he had created upwards of three thousand works. Averaged over a career span of (conservatively) forty-five years, this comes out to a little more than five drawings per month.

Please, YES gifts. You determine the exact amount. Here's our Purpose.

Posted 12/05/2013

TOM OF FINLAND

October is LGBT History Month, celebrated annually to recognize the notable achievements of LGBT people throughout time. Each day in October, Equality Forum features one LGBT icon who has made notable contributions to society.

San Diego Gay & Lesbian News presents a page on Tom of Finland, including a video. Plus you can discover the other LGBT people selected for the rest of the month.

San Diego Gay & Lesbian News Website

Posted 10/31/2013

The artist has influenced us all and how that expresses itself is an individual thing.

Image:
TOM OF FINLAND (Finnish, 1920 – 1991),
Untitled (Detail), 1973, Graphite on paper, 11” x 17”, ToFF #73.01
© 1973 Tom of Finland Foundation

TomofFinlandsmen

Posted 09/11/2013

Thank you to MSC London, BLUF, and The Backstreet for supporting TOM and his Foundation. They presented an informal Meet & Greet for Durk on September 6.

"You are keeping TOM’s legacy alive!"

— Durk Dehner,
president & cofounder, Tom of Finland Foundation

Posted 09/11/2013

Dome Karukoski, in Toronto with Heart of a Lion, is now set to direct his first English-language film, a biopic of groundbreaking artist Tom of Finland.

Tom of Finland was famous for his groundbreaking sexually explicit drawings of muscular men; his work is in collections at MoMA and LACMA.

Producers Helsinki-filmi have secured exclusive rights to the entire archives and all images from the artist. “We are working quite closely with the Foundation,” producer Aleksi Bardy told Screen. “It was very important for them that we wanted to respect the copyrights for his work. He has been pirated so much over the years.

“I think it’s a story of liberation, it’s a very universal story,” Bardy added.

Casting of an international actor will be announced in early 2014 and the film will start shooting in December 2014. “We don’t want to make a niche film,” Bardy said. “This is a universal story and we need an actor of a certain level.”

This will be the only authorized biopic of the artist as cleared by the Tom of Finland Foundation.

More info on TOM's Blog.

Posted 09/11/2013

Photo: Jay Lawton © 2011 JayPG Photography

Filmmaker Waide Aaron Riddle has thoughtfully gifted several Jay Lawton photographs to Tom of Finland Foundation.

This is a beautiful remembrance of Jay’s talent. Jay regularly applied his skils in support of the Foundation — whether it was documenting our events or recording items in our Permanant Collection. Beyond his archival efforts, he also had a rare eye for composition.

We are very honored to now also hold images from Jay's deeply artistic side. To see additional photos we received, visit TOM's Blog.

Posted 09/05/2013

TOM OF FINLAND (Finnish, 1920 – 1991), Untitled (Preliminary), 1970, Graphite on paper, ToFF #0250, © 1970 Tom of Finland Foundation

The purpose of this contest is to encourage artists to share their work by rewarding the best examples. The competition is open to any artist with the exception of previous winners of this competition, or artists who are already commercially selling work that portrays sexuality.

The Competition will begin in March, 2014 and close on June 30, 2014. The winners will be announced on July 15, 2014. Winners will exhibit at the next Tom of Finland Foundation Erotic Art Fair Weekend in Los Angeles, September 2014. Three prizes are given in each category including the Jay R. Lawton Photography Award and the Tom of Finland Grand Prize Award.

CATAGORIES: SINGLE FIGURE · DUAL FIGURE ·
MULTIPLE FIGURE · FANTASY · PHOTOGRAPHY

Be sure watch ToFF's eNews to receive all of our announcements!

Get ful information HERE!

Posted 09/05/2013

You Made It Happen: TOM’S BAR ’13

Tom wanted a party — and that is exactly what you gave him!

TOM’s Foundation thanks every soul that made TOM’s Bar rock this year. A big thanks to the artists that give us so much: Michael Kirwan, Rick Castro, Steven H. Garcia, E. Salvador Hernandez, Lalo Ugalde, and Hector Silva.

Kudos to the stalwart ToFF Volunteers! Plus our sponsors (can’t do anything without them). Shawn Farnsworth and the Faultline staff, host {Pup Don and the Los Angeles Bank of Brothers, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Sold Out Clothing, 665, Instigator Magazine, DJ Rocketman LA, PornTeam, Maximus, Slyd, Midtowne Spa and JocksAndMore.

Thank you to Robert Green, John Mendez, Miguel Angel Reyes and Lorenzo Gomez for their amazing photos of the event!

Photos and more on TOM's Blog

Posted 07/03/2013

Toni at ARLIS

Pasadena was under siege during April 25-29, 2013, as the 41st Annual ARLIS/NA Conference took place. ARLIS/NA is the Art Libraries Society of North America, whose members represent universities, museums and art schools.

Tom of Finland Foundation was invited to participate on a panel, “Queering Our Collections: Three Important LGBTQ Archives”. Marti Pike, Cataloging Librarian, discussed the uniqueness and organization of the library and the archives. She also shared the progress of making the library’s collection accessible to the public through LibraryThing.

Toni Rodriguez, Copy Cataloger, illustrated how TOM House is used as a public and private space, and the challenges of living and working in a museum. She also stressed the importance of the Foundation as a vital community space for other local organizations such as L. A. Band of Brothers and Avatar, as well as the concerns of protecting the art and library collections.

ARLIS / NA Website.

Posted 05/24/2013

Jay Lawton at ToFF’s Art Fair 2006

JAY R. LAWTON, 20TH JULY 1961 — 23RD APRIL 2013

“One shot can last a lifetime.”

Jay Lawton was always knowing. He certainly knew what he wanted. It was very rewarding watching him mature as a photographer, not always an easy path he chose.

Jay came to Tom of Finland Foundation eager. He helped by documenting thousands of objects with his camera. He recorded our events as eventful. He acquired a quiet confidence that he took with him to all other kinds of events but he was adopted by the Leather community. His reputation was built on earnestness and dignity (and always being on time!).

More on TOM's Blog, with details on a Celebration of Life, May 11, 2013.

Posted 05/06/2013

Tom of Finland Foundation presented Justin Emerick — the Mister Los Angeles Leather 2013 title winner — with a Tom of Finland fine art print.

Justin will be representing the Los Angeles, CA area in the International Mr. Leather competition May 24 - 27 in Chicago, IL

International Mr. Leather Website

Posted 05/06/2013

Payasos L.A. donated half of the proceeds from Hell on Wheels, Part 1 to ToFF. Their first, annual motorcycle ride reconnected generations and revitalized their Leather roots. It is always great to see new people at TOM House.

Payasos L.A. is a nonprofit brotherhood of Gay/Bi Latino men who are committed to supporting and enhancing the quality of life for our communities and for future generations.

Payasos L.A. Website

Posted 05/06/2013

Touko Laaksonen (AKA Tom of Finland) Helsinki, c. 1973

To protect, preserve and promote the art and legacy of the artist within his home country.

To host and coordinate events where TOM fans can come together and celebrate the life and work of a Finnish hero.

While based in Helsinki, they work with Tom of Finland Foundation in Los Angeles which Tom cofounded in 1984.

They depend on membership support to continue our efforts as a nonprofit society. Only 20€ per year to join up.

[Photo note: Touko became the main art director for a large advertising agency.]

Visit Tom of Finland Seura.

Posted 04/10/2013

Curiosa : la bibliothèque érotique. Alessandro Bertolotti opens his bibilothèque of "curiosa" — a term that refers bibliophile books on eroticism, sexuality, pornography — to show us the works of the rarest and most important of his immense collection.

Illustrated more 350 reproductions, this book invites the reader to forget the mundane and conformist division between eroticism and pornography and discover this world with so much passion and curiosity.

More on TOM's Blog.

Posted 04/10/2013

We, at Tom of Finland Foundation (ToFF), would like to officially thank the convent for the donation of the proceeds from “TOM’s Angels” held on the 15th of March, 2013 at Eagle LA. It was wonderful to see such a show of support! Novice Sister Hanna did a glittering job and we are most proud of her.

TOM’s Angels was a reaffirmation of the relationship between TOM’s Foundation and the Order that spans many years. We have always been eager to work together. ToFF is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) Educational Archive and very appreciative for your continued support and assistance in the furtherance of our goals.

We are able to keep our doors open to the public and maintain a schedule of programs for artists through your generosity. You go Hanna! Thank you to all the Artists, Sponsors, Volunteers and Supporters who fiercely made this benefit such a success that Charlie Matula was glad he ordered extra beer for the evening!

Photos and more on TOM's Blog.

Posted 04/03/2013

ToFF way appreciates our Volunteers that helped with LA Leather Pride 2013. They certainly helped put our best face forward with their hard work and enthusiasm!

Check out some photos from the event on TOM's Blog.

Volunteer Info

Posted 04/03/2013

CHRISTOPHER RUSSELL (American, 1974- ), Always series, 1999 Chromagenic prints, © Christopher Russell

Tom of Finland Foundation is very pleased to have this remarkable series in our permanent collection.

Christopher Russell employs photography, bookmaking, writing, drawing, and digital-media printmaking to illustrate his explorations of the darker side of the human psyche. Investigating, and sometimes fabricating, the reasons people live or behave outside of socially acceptable margins, his work offers visions of what many would deem dirty, broken, useless, or criminal. Through the lens of a present-day flâneur, viewers are made privy to Russell’s observant, analytical wanderings along the physical and emotional outskirts of society.

"Always began with the chance finding of a thin, spiral bound notebook dropped on a sidewalk in San Francisco. I opened it to a random page and read a young woman’s account of losing her virginity. It was unclear who she was writing to, if the text was intended to reach a specific person or if she was personifying the diary.

"It was a rush of poignant information, completely unrelated, and unrelatable, to a physical body. It dealt with foundational issues of identity, but the identity of the author could never be reconstructed. I wondered how hard it would be to find intensely personal information about an essentially unknowable stranger.

"How many moments are recorded and lost, relegated to narrative fragments and the truth claim supported by anonymity. I spent the next two years picking up things from gutters." — Christopher Russell

Christopher Russell Web Page

Posted 03/05/13

REX (American), Leather Bar, 1978, Pen & ink on paper, 13.63" x 17.25" © 1978 Drawings by REX

This is the earliest original REX in the artist’s collection. It was done in 1978 for a French porno film poster and was returned to him in the 1990s when he was in living in New York. On July 10, 1981, a major fire on Folsom Street in San Francisco destroyed the homes (along with artwork and photographs) of REX, photographer Mark I. Chester and many Leathermen. As such, Leather Bar is one of the few original drawings surviving from his pre-1980 period.

REX tells the story of encountering Tom of Finland’s liberating images in a magazine store in Manhattan in the ‘60s. Tom’s work was life changing for Homosexuals who encountered it. REX was no exception and he admits how TOM’s integrity influenced him.

ToFF is honored to accept this historical and significant gift into its collection.

REX Website

Posted 02/03/13

Stripped

TOM and others appear in Stripped: A Story of Gay Comics (368 pages, 20 x 27cm, Bruno Gmünder). Comics for Gay men have become enormously popular within the past couple of years. You can find everything (including TOM!) from witty and humorous (Ralf König) to strong and hung (Patrick Fillion), from cheeky youngsters (Tom Bouden) to adorable twinks who are deeply in love (Mioki).

Markus Pfalzgraf is a real a aficionado of the colorful genre. With Stripped he has compiled a stunning collection, which offers an overview for beginners and also contains some delightful treasures for those who think they’ve seen it all.

Get your copy of Stripped: A Story of Gay Comics

Posted 01/14/2013

For the MANHOLE tribute to TOM on June 16th, 2012 at Hydrate in Chicago.

Your town next?

More on the event.
Hydrate Website

Posted 01/14/2013

TOM OF FINLAND (Finnish, 1920 – 1991)

TOM and other illustrators appear in Anthologie de la bande dessinée érotique (Anthology of Erotic Comics) (368 pages, 20 x 27cm). Vincent Bernière has put together an anthology on erotic comics. Inspired by the success of Beaux Arts Magazine's issue Sex and Comic Art, he has assembled a big book on the same topic.

Appreciated or hated or cursed, erotic comics have become a genre in itself. Between humor and trash, this anthology discovers — or rediscovers — the history of drawing boards for adults through texts and analysis, Tijuana Bibles Aurelia aurita through Crepax or Crumb. It's a walk through a hundred years of naughty fantasy bubbles.

In 1956, Tom of Finland sent some drawings to the American magazine Physique Pictorial, which — while under the guise of sport — was for homosexuals. The publisher was captivated. Without a doubt he had unknowingly built the founding principle of Tom of Finland: "I know that I got a picture when it makes me hard." Therefore, Tom let go with his pencil and begins with the beefcake of Kake, a self-produced booklet.

Beefcake? Prized by some homosexuals, this kind of representation favors well-muscled males. Tom of Finland was the most notable representative of gay art in the late 1960s: it is in Kake, and in Jack and Mike. His drawings were typically bikers, sailors, loggers, police; and have become archetypes of some of the homosexual culture, all based on virility.

Beau Arts Website

Posted 01/14/2013

Santa

The Tom of Finland Foundation Holiday Potluck at TOM House 16th December, 2012 welcomed everyone with open arms and big hugs. Santa (Pete Finland) was there to spank both "naughty and nice"!

See the gallery of photos taken by by Lorenzo Gomez.

Thank you to our Volunteers, Members and Supporters.

Tom of Finland Foundation is most thankful for the generous contribution made by the Los Angeles Division of the California Boots and Breeches Corps.

We are here because friends are there for us.TOM’s Foundation exists with your contributions.

Check out photos from their recent holiday party at the Foundation.

S. R. Sharp, ToFF curator and Nancy Peach, artist.

In 2008, I became interested in the art of Japanese erotic bondage called Shibari, which came into use in the west in the 1990s to describe the bondage art Kinbaku.

Kinbaku means tight binding, using simple yet visually intricate patterns. Japanese bondage is very much about the way the ropes are applied and the pleasure is more in the journey than the destination.

The patterns that are created in this particular style of rope bondage by the Nawashi (rope master) are fascinating to me and I continue to be intrigued with the beauty.

— Nancy Peach

More from Nancy Peach on TOM's Blog.and a link to her winning entry in the Emerging Erotic Artist Contest 2009.

Nancy Peach Website.

Posted 12/30/2012

FERNANDO CARPANEDA (Brazilian), Biker Jerking Off, 2012, Clay, cement, human hair, fabric, wood and acrylic paint, 8" x 3.37" x 3.37"

Carpaneda was born in Brasília, Brazil. He works with clay sculptures. His main theme is always the human being. He watches people in the streets, bars, concerts, and places where people sell their bodies.

Fernando makes portraits of rent boys, punks, junkies, thieves and outcasts. Instead of attaching himself to muses, he focuses on male nudes to compose his art pieces, having the human being, the masculine, as the main goal in his work. All his portraits are like a relic, a holy place, a moment caught in time.

ToFF is very proud to have this wonderful sculpture in its collection.

Catch an interview with the artist on TOM's Blog.

Fernando Carpaneda Website.

Posted 12/30/2012

Thank you to Sean Holman, Jody Wheeler and the entire BC staff for bringing us a world of fantasy and bent reality created by heroic Artists and inhabited by amazing souls.

Check out the images on Tom's Blog

 

Posted 12/05/2012

W. Lee Bailey has donated two works to Tom of Finland Foundation:

Fragmentary Focus by NIGEL KENT (top image)

Rimming by ROBERT RICHARDS (lower image)

The gift also included a Saint Andrews cross built by Gary O’Neil in 1998 of Wolf Productions, Minneapolis.

 

Posted 12/05/2012

REX, Helping Hand (Detail), 1989, Pen and ink on paper, © 2012 Rex

REX is one of the foremost artists of forbidden and politically incorrect sexual activity among men, his is more than merely “Gay art”. REX the artist is a historian, a voyeur, a muckraker and a trouble maker, a provocateur, a sensualist and a hedonist, the sensualist and a hedonist, the sensitive and observant portrayer of a secret world…

The world of leather and denim, steamy basements and grimy garages, anonymous sweaty tops and groveling sexpigs is perfectly suited to his black & white detailed and moody pointillistic renderings.

— Bob Mainardi, San Francisco, 2012

A comprehensive collection of the ingenious work of REX. His gloomy masterpieces lead us into a world full of lust and submission, full of dominance and sexual power.

Available from Bruno Gmünder. 128 Pages, 8.50" x 11.25", Hardcover, English

Posted 12/02/2012

Mr. Palm Springs Leather 2013 – Scott Smith!

Palm Springs is da BOMB!

Thanks to Valentine, Michael Kirwan, Norm and Johnny for being part of the ToFF booth.

Congratulations to Mr. Palm Springs Leather 2013 – Scott Smith!

And a special thanks to those that attended, participated, and supported the artists.

Posted 12/02/2012

Mark models for a Drawing Workshop in 2003

Mark processed many elements of the well-rounded Homosexual. He knew a bit about almost anything but was only interested in a select few things at each station of his life. I knew Mark from 1977 to 2012 and I can truly state that he was one of the sexiest men to walk this planet. Oh, was he charming. He was a motorcyclist, a designer, a heavily driven maniacal perfectionist. Back in the late 1970s, Mark, working with Waldo Fernandez, created the look of the trendy Trumps on Melrose. He was one of the coolest of friends I could ever have had.

Mark and I were biking buds, mountain back-packing bros and we messed around off and on in the dungeons of L.A. We just pushed each other to be even sexier. This restless spirit was practically the inventor of tight – that’s how he wore his leathers – tied off and tight. He was kinky to a most pleasant degree. He had impeccable taste in men, and well, one man in particular that he met through me… Mark had big beautiful lips that you just wanted to kiss.

Mark was so damn brutal to his own physical muscle, the heart, and had such a capacity to use it with the men he loved and the men who loved him. Everyone felt good around Mark.

It was never the right time for Mark to leave us, he had come back so many times, and I was looking forward to seeing him again, as always. I couldn’t count on him to show up for a dinner party but I could always expect him to sail into my life with some wacky new twist… we’re Queers… it’s expected of us.

Love you Mark,
Durk

Posted 11/08/2012

TOM is in a new book on the art of comics. Through his drawings, TOM created and popularized Gay fantasy archetypes.

Since the 1960s, his art has revolutionized Gay imagery with strong men, dressed not as “sissies”, but in the uniforms of men. His work has contributed to the self-confidence of the Homosexual, but it also sparked international controversy because of its sexual content.

Tom of Finland and Ralf König are presented as the two most important designers dealing with Homosexuality.

Read more on the link in the Cité Internationale of Comics and Image.

A’art de la Bande Dessinée under the direction of Pascal Ory, Martin Lawrence Venayre Sylvain and Jean-Pierre Mercier Groensteen Thierry, Xavier’s pray and Benoit Peeters.

Posted 9/15/2012

A big thanks to Folsom volunteers and organizers. We had an incredible weekend in San Francisco at the 2012 Folsom Street Fair, and we owe an extra big thanks to our two volunteers; Angel Armesto from Austin, Texas; and Erik Tweed of The Magazine who spent their entire day reaching out to the public and educating the uninitiated about Tom of Finland and the vital social and historic importance of protecting, preserving and promoting erotic art.

Thanks to the grant from the fine folks at the Folsom Street Events for their funds that covered the price of our space, a beautiful new pop-up tent, as well as some gas to get there. We would also be remiss for neglecting to mention the donation from Thorn at Instigator magazine or Pete of Finland for dropping by to say “Hi”.

We look forward to seeing everyone again next year!

See Photos on TOM's Blog

STASIU (American, 1962- ), Chained Submission, 2012, Linocut, 2/25, 10.50" x 7.50", Gift from artist

As Tom had established worldwide recognition as the master of homo-erotic art, the Foundation’s original purpose was to preserve his vast catalog of work. Several years later the scope was widened to offer a safe haven for all erotic art in response to rampant discrimination against art that portrayed sexual behavior or generated a sexual response.

Today the Foundation continues in its efforts of educating the public as to the cultural merits of erotic art and in promoting healthier, more tolerant attitudes about sexuality.

Tom of Finland Foundation thanks the artist for this contribution.

You will find Stasiu at the
West Hollywood / Los Angeles Erotic Art Fair Weekend

The 2nd annual 12” of Sin: In Vegas, Size Matters is a juried show sponsored by Sin City Gallery, Las Vegas. They are seeking sophisticated, intelligent and clever works of art exploring a variety of subjects and themes with elegance and modern innovation. This art competition compresses exhibition boundaries while expanding artistic challenge through works of art that are no larger than 12 inches square.

International artists must be 18 years and older and may submit up to four works of art. Closing deadline is October 1, 2012.

12" of Sin Submissions Website.

Issue 16

Pete Finland, a Tom of Finland Foundation Advisory Board member since 1999 considers the Foundation his only family in the USA.

He is from Finland, but changed his name because Americans have trouble pronouncing Finnish names. Tom of Finland was a major influence.

All Bear Magazine Website.

New Tom of Finland book debuts at L.A. Art Fair!

Tom of Finland: Life and Work of a Gay Hero is an anthology from author F. Valentine Hooven III and German publisher Bruno Gmünder that features numerous drawings and rare photographs. The book will be launched at the Los Angeles Erotic Art Fair Weekend.

Read more about it on TOM's Blog

Posted 09/02/2012

XAVIER GICQUEL (French, 1965- ) Pin-up Tom of Finland, 2008

Artist Registration for the Fair is open!
Artist Registration Page

Volunteers are needed for this event.
Get free admission, beverages and a 20 % discount at the Foundation Store.
Volunteers Page

Learn more about this year's Fair!
WHLA EAFW

At the Art Lot Sale

The sun was shining on August 25, and so were the artists attending Rough Trade's Art Lot Sale.

The Foundation thanks Rough Trade for giving artists this opportunity.

And thanks to Miguel Angel Reyes for the photos.

More images of the Art Lot Sale on TOM's Blog.

Posted 8/31/2012

Enjoying Rasputin

On July 28th, 2012, Andrés Rigal & Luke Nero presented Rasputin: Russian Love Machine’s homage to TOM and his Foundation.

It was hosted by Miguel Angel Reyes, SOLD OUT Clothing and ToFF’s VP, S. R. Sharp, with Josef Jasso, go-gos Johnathan Myers & Curtis Jackson.and DJs Josh Peace and Aaron Elvis.

Enormous thanks to hosts Rich Yap and Jake Prieto, Carrington Galen and Gary Duran and David Kahauolopua & Keith Webster and all the dedicated models.

See some of the fun on TOM's Blog.

Posted 8/31/2012

Erotic City at LA Pride

ToFF engayged with a lot of glorious people at LA PRIDE 2012 and were grateful for the opportunity to be part of Erotic City.

We are very grateful for all of our friends – the Artists -
who share their work with so many, Miguel Angel Reyes, Jay Lawton, Hector Silva, Ethan Maxx and Lalo Ugalde.

We are 100% indebted to our friends – our Volunteers – who make doing all this a joy, Devin, Eddie, Görkem, Jake, Josh, Marcus and Tom. And the Models, our inspiration, thank you, each of you including Chris, Dan, Diego, Jordon, Marcos and Mason.

Posted 06/23/2012

Tom of Finland (Touko Laaksonen)

Tom of Finland Volume II—Bikers

After seeing The Wild One, Tom never drew men in brown leather again; black leather now dominated his fantasies, and his art.

Kake became Tom’s fearless, outgoing alter ego, and bikers supplanted military men as his favorite subject.

In Tom of Finland Volume II—Bikers we explore Tom’s fascination with bikers through a mixture of multi-panel comics and single panel drawings and paintings, starting in the 1940s, before The Wild One fixed his taste on black leather, through the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. Historic film stills and posters, personal photos of Tom, sketches, and Tom’s own reference photos make this far more than another Tom’s Comics retread.

Tom’s art continues to play an important role in promoting self-confidence, positive self-image and openness in the gay community.

"My whole life long, I have done nothing but interpret my dreams of ultimate masculinity, and draw them" — Tom of Finland, from an interview with Patrick Sarfarti in Rebel.

"Is there any other artist that we ejaculate to and also have on the coffee table?" — Time Out Chicago

Tom of Finland: Bikers. Vol. 2 — Taschen, Hardcover, 5.9 x 8.5 in., 272 pages, $ 17.99, Multilingual Edition: English, French, German, Images © Tom of Finland Foundation, Los Angeles

Posted 06/23/2012

Tom of Finland (Touko Laaksonen)

Homotopia has been awarded funding to create three major internation projects in Russia, Sweden and Finland.

• Homotopia & Tom of Finland Foundation’s hugely successful Tom of Finland Retrospective to tour to Kulturhuset Stockholm Summer 2012.
• Homotopia & Tom of Finland Foundation to create Tom of Finland archive & heritage project in Turku.
• Homotopia to develop “Art As Social Change” in St. Petersburg, Russia in September 2012.

Homotopia has been instrumental in securing funding to begin work on the personal archive of Tom of Finland. The Wäinö Aaltonen Museum of Art & Åbo Akademi Library, City Of Turku want to gather permanent collections of works & private ephemera by Tom of Finland and material related to the artist in Turku. The project starts later this month and will develop into a large scale archive and heritage program documenting Tom’s early life in Finland including the Winter War.

Homotopia will also be developing a new human rights led project “Art As Social Change” which will open in St. Petersburg, Russia later in the year. The exhibition will chronicle the emergence of Gay rights movement in the UK and Europe through photographs, testimonies and film. St. Petersburg is twinned with Turku and will be led by the Finnish Consulate and Homotopia.

Homotopia is supported by Liverpool City Council and is also a National Portfolio Arts Council England and is the only LGBT arts and cultural organization in the North of England.

Posted 06/23/2012

Photo by Benno Sebastian

TOM’s Bar 2012 recap.

Everybody made it a perfect day for Tom. Thanks to all the Volunteers that made it happen, our Sponsors for who made it fun, and to everyone who come to this great event at Faultline Bar to celebrate Daddy’s Day for Tom of Finland, June 17th, 2012. Special kudos to Shawn Farnsworth of the Faultline, SOLD OUT Clothing and Instigator Magazine.

I wanted to show Gays they can feel happy together. -TOM

Click to see a gallery of photos taken by Benno Sebastian.

Click to see a video of the events taken by Alexsander Freitas.

Mein Schwules Auge (My Gay Eye) Volume 8: Yearbook of the Gay Erotic.

Axel Schock (Editor) and Rinaldo Hopf (Photographer)

A diverse selection of gay erotic literature, art, and photography comprises this volume of contributions from both American and European writers, artists, and photographers. The featured essays, short stories, poems, and artwork focus on the provocative subject of rebels and demonstrate the changes in every medium of erotic art from one year to the next.

Showing how the genre is constantly and creatively reinventing itself, this is a fascinating look at a versatile form of expression. In German, 320 pgs.

Thanks to Rinaldo Hopf for this series of pure indulgence.

Get it on Amazon!

The debut issue of HORST Magazine features fashion designers Karl Lagerfeld (alongside his muse, Baptiste Giabiconi), Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs, Dean and Dan Caten (Dsquared2), and Jean Paul Gaultier in an erotic Tom of Finland-inspired story, illustrated by Bendix Bauer.

The project is focused on the lifestyle of modern Gay men who don’t define themselves on the basis of their sexual orientation. It’s about being a man, being at ease with your body, with your desires, with your needs, with your habits, with your sexuality.

The visuals are breathtaking high-end images incorporating expressive, mind-blowing and sometimes even shocking subjects. Sex sells, we all know that. Many big campaigns set new standards when they’re published. Sex is a huge part of professional advertising; sex is success.

The first issue is a limited edition of 1.000 copies,
which is available in some selected stores in Germany and online. As of June 6, 2012, only 109 copies remain.

HORST Website

Click Here for Durk Dehner Click Here for Gary Everett

Last year a new Finnish Tom of Finland archive with partners Wäinö Aaltonen Museum in Turku, and Åbo Akademi University.

Now created is a cooperative project involving Tom of Finland Foundation, Los Angeles; Åbo Akademi; Wäinö Aaltonen Museum and Homotopia, Liverpool.

Helsinki has a key role, as Tom lived and worked here a long time. It began on Saturday with the establishment of a new Tom of Finland Society (Tom of Finland Seura).

Two audio interviews in English tell what is going on.

More info in Finish

Pin-Up Show

A recent addition to the Tom of Finland library is the mini-magazine of the multi-talented artist Trevor Wayne, Pin-Up Show.

An overheard quote about Trevor's artwork, "Like Lichtenstein and Warhold meets Mad Magazine.

Trevor Wayne's Website.

Uli has donated to the Foundation archives letters he received from Tom of Finland. “I have held them sacred for all these years and it is good to know they are in good hands”.

Uli was a big part of the creation of Gay culture in Berlin. With his drawings, he was one of the first who opened the door for the Gay subcluture in Germany. Since those beginnings many artists have emerged, “That’s been so good”, he says.

“The thought of Tom’s drawings in my life has given me a lot of strenght, joy and confidence”. Uli of Berlin has always drawn out of joy.

Dear Uli, Best of thanks for your letter with signed photos of your very good drawings. I hope we cand meet soon to talk more. All the best, Tom

Tom of Finland XXL book in casing. Photo by LIBBY FREEMAN

A recent addition to the Foundation’s Permanent Collection is this sculpture Literaturwurst by Katie Herzog,.installed in the ToFF Library.

The projects of Katie Herzog are actively engaged in rethinking contemporary forms of information distribution, alternative models of archivization, the traditions of librarianship and how artistic interventions communicate both inside and outside the confines of the fine art world. Her most recent project, Literaturwurst, takes up a process of appropriation with a contemporary twist.

Whether her book sausages are seen as seasoned writings, food for thought or nourishment for the mind, Herzog’s works redress the functionality of copyright laws as a series of expropriative restrictions.

“Herzog is headed into provocative territory.” — LA Times

Our congratulations to Michael for winning the category Best Comic / Comic Art Book.

With inspiration from the pioneering gay artist Paul Cadmus, Michael Kirwan's imagination runs wild in this absolutely, disgustingly wonderful book

Bruno Gmunder has put together a wonderful book you’ll want on your coffee table, as long your mom and dad aren't coming over.

For more on the TLA Awards and Kirwan's winning entry go here.

Tom of Finland’s real name is Touko Laaksonen, and he was born on May 8, 1920, on the south coast of Finland.

Where did his first name, Touko come from? The month of May in Finnish is “Toukokuu”.

What do you give to the man you gave us everything? DONATIONS + MEMBERSHIP + BEQUESTS to his Foundation!

Here's a short biography on Tom.

The Foundation thanks Brad Rader for the generous donation of his new book, The Art of Brad Rader.

Brad has worked in the TV industry for for 26 years as a storyboard artist and director on various animated series including Batman, The Real Ghostbusters, Gargoyles, Spiderman, and King of the Hill.

A few of his directing credits include Captain Simian and the Space Monkeys, Godzilla, and Spawn (for whuich he won won an Emmy, in 1999).

He has also illustrated for such titles as Batman Adventures, Catwoman, Fused, and the original Vertigo graphic novel Fogtown. In 2003, he founded Flaming Artist Press.

This very affordable 60-page hardcover book — with over 100 color illustrations — includes super hero drawings and sketches, storyboards, character designs, noir characters and scenes and on-the-spot drawings.

Find it here on Stuart NG Books.

Calling all artists of the male form. Submit your artwork for inclusion in the Adonis Art Olympic Challenge Exhibition. The Exhibition will be composed of images of Olympic-themed artwork submitted from all over the world.

There will be no prize, but viewers will be able to vote for their favourite. It will be an honour for any artist to be included, and the Adonis Art Gallery is proud to host this event to coincide with the London Olympic Games.

Thi is an accummulating exhibition — artwork will be added as it is selected, starting from the first entrys received and building right up to and including the games themselves during July and August 2012. This is an exciting project for the world of male art. Entry is free.

Visit the Adonis Art Website to lean more.

Posted 04/13/2012

TOM OF FINLAND (Finnish, 1920 – 1991), Untitled (Detail from "Finlander Studs 2"), 1974, Graphite on paper, 11.75” x 8.25”, Tom of Finland Foundation Permanent Collection #74.08, © 1974 Tom of Finland Foundation

Tom of Finland attracted record audiences in Turku, Finland

The year-long exhibition of legendary Gay artist, Tom of Finland, ended in December attracting a record audience of 90,000 to the Logomo space.

The exhibition, which opened in January 2011, was part of the official program for Turku European Capital of Culture 2011 and presented by Homotopia, Liverpool, Turku 2011 Foundation and Tom of Finland Foundation, Los Angeles.

More on TOM's Blog

Photo: Devon Robinson

ToFF Digs the Desert

ToFF thanks the Barracks bar, its owners and staff. ToFF is grateful for our Volunteers and Artists. ToFF appreciates everyone who came out on Easter and supported us.

ToFF can help others because you help us.

Photos by Devin Robinson. Check out his Gallery for this event.

Posted 04/10/2012

Homotopia invites producers, community artists, promoters and professional artists to submit work for consideration for its autumn festival to be held at various venues across Liverpool between 1st - 30th November 2012.

The festival seeks new work from artists, theatremakers, producers and promoters for consideration for its Liverpool festival. It produces a critically acclaimed programme and we are interested in different levels of engagement & artist development which could be early R&D, new work and also completed projects that can be staged or presented in an eclectic variety of spaces from theatre, cinema, gallery or site specific.

The final programme will be selected by Homotopia in consultation with partners and producers at host venues. Homotopia embraces a wide range of work and is keen to partner with existing companies/artists. Some of it is mainstream with a traditional appeal and some of it is innovative and experimental. Some work can focus on LGBT issues while other work can be related to LGBT themes.

All work submitted for consideration must either feature: 1. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) themes; 2. Be of interest to an LGBT audience; 3. Be created or presented by LGBT artists. DEADLINE: Friday 4th May 2012 5:00 PM.

Homotopia Queercore.

Posted 04/10/2012

Darren Bondy by Leland Carina at Kink.com

TOM’s Foundation is very appreciative of the donation we have received.

We thank Darren Bondy, Mr. San Francisco Leather 2011
and San Francisco Bay Area Leather Alliance for their support and we acknowledge all of their achievements for the community.

The San Francisco Bay Area Leather Alliance is committed to creating a welcome and supportive environment for members of the SF Bay Area leather, fetish, kink and motorcycling communities.

Will, Pete & CB @ Pieces

On March 21st, The Will Clark Show featured Porno Bingo.

The evening raised bux for ToFF with a Special Auction!

It was a night of Smokin Leather and kix.

Tom of Finland Foundation thanks: Will Clark, Pete Finland, CB Kirby, The LGBT Community of NYC and Pieces for their continued support (and awesomeness!) They know we’re no place without an affirmative outlook on sex.

Photo: Johnny James Curry, Jr.

Sweet Street Fair success…

…thanks to Goddess Chal, LALC’s Woman of the Year, the ToFF Artists and Volunteers, and all the supporters who navigated the San Fernando Valley on Sunday, March 25 2012/.

View the Gallery with photos by Johnny James Curry, Jr.

Artist Minoru has donated 69 (curious number!) of his drawings, paintings and prints to the Tom of Finland Foundation.

The Foundation proudly accepts this gift: The Minoru Collection

The artist will be showing at the End of the Road Steet Fair March 25th, in Los Angeles.

Visit Minoru's Website to view more of his works.

Stevee Postman

The David Aden Gallery and FotoFactory Press are pleased to offer original photographic prints, signed and numbered by the following artists. This online gallery is updated regularly, so please check back for expanded portfolios and new artist offerings.

Current artists: Niko Arana, Amos Badertscher, Mark Grantham, Reed Massengill, Michael McDevitt, Richard Morgan, Brian Moss, Stevee Postman, Veli-Pekka Raty, Mel Roberts, David Sprigle, Stanley Stellar, and Arthur Tress.

Tom of Finland Foundation is grateful for the donations Foto Factory has made to its archives and library over the years.

You are invited to visit their Online Gallery.

From Volume 1

JayPG has released two volumes in his Dore Alley 2006 series: Candid Carnality. Jay is well known on the west coast for his documentation of leather oriented community events.

“This was my first trip to Dore Alley and it was truly an event to remember and nothing quite like what it has become.”

You can preview both voluments in their entirety on the Blurb website or see the book at the Fetish Street Fair March 25, in Los Angeles.

Both volumes are available froim Blurb.

MICHAEL KIRWAN

Just released!

Backwoods by the very humpable Natty Soltesz with the cover and interior illustrations by Michael Kirwan.

Here is the steamy underside of rural America, the back roads, back doors, and back rooms of a town called Groom, Pennsylvania.

Secrets are sacred in a place where one’s business is everyone’s business, and the erotic stories in Backwoods bare them all.

Conceived as a gay-themed erotic take on Sherwood Anderson’s Winesburg, Ohio, Backwoods is by turn poignant and pornographic, romantic and raunchy, tender and titillating. Literal climaxes are underpinned by an authentic observation of small-town lives, both repressed and unreserved.

Available froim Amazon.

TOM OF FINLAND (Finnish, 1920 – 1991), Untitled 1962, Graphite on paper, ToFF #62.20, © 1962 Tom of Finland Foundation

Thank you to all of our supporters and a special thanks to:

John McConnell

Alpha Beta Foundation

Bill Freyer

Pleasures and Treasures

Anthony Roller

San Diego — A Great Place To Be With Great Friends To Have.

A note from the editor of artillery, Tulsa Kinney

As the art world knows, Los Angeles artist Mike Kelley passed away, an apparent suicide.

Mike was a friend of the Foundation and collected Tom’s work.

In 1985, when Mike was at CalArts he coordinated a lecture with Tom.

When Mike visited TOM House he shared his joy, his wisdom and his sense of humor.

When you left us, Mike, we were in the midst of working on a new anthology on Tom. We were writing about you and how those that create, inspire.

Thank you for giving so much to the world.

STEVE WALKER, Both Sides Now, 2008, Acrylic on canvas, 48" x 36"

Canadian born artist Steve Walker (1961 - 2012) passed away in early January from a heart attack near his home in Costa Rica.

Steve made prodigious contributions to male Art. He will be missed and leaves us all saddened.

“I have always been inclined to let my work speak for itself, believing that should I need to explain it, I have perhaps failed.

"I hope that in its’ silence, the body of my work has given a voice to my life, the lives of others, and in doing so, the dignity of all people.”

— Steve Walker, Toronto, 2000

“Love, Light, Loss, Life.
Touching, Watching, Thinking.
Yearning, Reflecting, Fearing.
I paint about life, mine and yours.
My sexual orientation is unapologetically,
Simple part of that.”

— Steve Walker, Toronto, 2004

Photo: EPA

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, which oversees the original, Frank Lloyd Wright-designed museum in New York as well as four overseas sites, proposed that it and the Finnish capital jointly develop a new museum.

The Guggenheim chose Helsinki due to strong local interest and tradition in art and design, as well as the city’s plans to develop its harbour properties, it said in a report on Tuesday after a year-long feasibility study. It also noted the city lacked a significant modern art collection, a gap it said the museum could fill and help draw tourists.

“Helsinki’s cultural landscape is rich, but it is also fragmented … Helsinki’s art scene lacks a centre of gravity,” the report said, recommending the city move forward with an architectural competition.

It proposed a museum be built on a city-owned site in Helsinki’s south harbour, next to the Alvar Aalto-designed headquarters of Finnish forest company Stora Enso.

Its 140 million euro estimate includes the construction and design of the museum. The Guggenheim is also counting on public, private and corporate funding to cover operating costs. The city is due to decide in the next few weeks whether to go ahead with the project.

The Telegraph Thursday, 12 January 2012

Plans are now being made for Tom of Finland Foundation’s 2012 Art Fair Weekend, which will be held September 27th through the 30th. We will have a larger and more “current” venue that will be more attractive to Artists and Collectors alike, and we return to the successes of previous autumns. We want to provide a more fitting exhibition space and room, both for our formal discussions, and relaxed conversation.

An important part of this 2012 Weekend will be the presence of the winners of our biennial artist contest, the celebration of the 20th anniversary edition of Tom’s biography and the completion of our new art storage facility at TOM House.

The Foundation is steadfast in its commitment to protect and preserve artwork and to promote the exceptional artists that create it.

Art is an integral part of Gay culture. Change INSPIRES.

On Sunday, March 25th, you’ll find ToFF at LA Fetish Pride’s Street Fair! Please join us at this cultural event with adult beverage, kinky vendors and good friends. What more do you need?

Posted 01/18/2012

Carmine Santaniello is proud to announce that his work has been featured in the magazine Noisy Rain, Issue 7.

His recent works are mixed media monoprints utilizing urban images that he photographs, along with drawing through a printmaking process: Paper Lithography.

He is greatly inspired by urban images such as graffiti, dripping / splattered paint, marred subway tiles, posted bills, etcetera. He sees them as intriguing environments that work so well to house his figures and portraits. He loves the contrast of the beautiful male form in a somewhat seedy urban setting.

Noisy Rain Website for Issue 7. See pages 70 - 87 for Carmine's work.

Carmine Santaniello Website.

S. R. Sharp, Maija Liisa and Durk Dehner.

ToFF Volunteer, Maija Liisa Ingebrigtsen, translated a 30 panel story in our Permanent Collection that Tom created in 1946. Tom did the captions of his very early works in Finnish.

It was wondeful having Maija at the Foundation while she was in Los Angeles.

Here's a sample:

Guy 1: “Damn, boss. Can I try it?”

Guy 3: “Fabulous tail!”

Guy 2: “Awesome thing!”

TOM OF FINLAND (Finnish, 1920 –1991), Untitled, 1946, Gouache on paper,
© 1946 Tom of Finland Foundation

Taking a break from his hectic schedule, Santa Claus dropped in to say hello to all of the good(?) boys and girls attending our Holiday Potluck — our annual soirée for members, volunteers and friends of the Foundation.. Everyone had a chance to sit on Santa's lap and steal a kiss.

You can see more of Santa at TOM's Blog .

Nothing Happens Without our Volunteers and Members

EVERYTHING Happens With Them

Posted 01/03/2012

Pages from Gallerie Mooiman catalog.

For the first time worldwide, an LGBT male/gay art gallery was represented on the Millionaire Fair in Amsterdam. Gallerie Mooiman participated in the 10th annual Fair held in December in Amsterdam. Proceeds from the work sold at auction were donated to the Friends of the Gaykrant Foundation.

Tom of Finland pages from the catalogue:

“Tom of Finland’s driving force through the four decades of his artistic career was to provide positive role models for Gay men inspiring messages of self pride and happiness in men loving men. His work transcended into the popular culture and became part of the culture.

"His works reside in many museums of the world like MoMA in New York. He has been hailed as one of the most influential artists of the last century. It is difficult to find any one other individual who has done more for Gay liberation than this humble Finn who spent most of his working career in his studios in Finland and America.”

Gallerie Mooiman Website
Millionaire Fair Website
Gaykrant Foundation Website

TOM OF FINLAND (Finnish, 1920 – 1991), Untitled, 1971, Pastel on paper, 15.25” x 12.00”, ToFF #71.07, © 1971 Tom of Finland Foundation

Durk Dehner at the presentation.

ToFF presented a gift to Aaltonen Museum in Turku, Finland.

Tom of Finland will not be leaving Turku entirely, even though the Capital of Culture year’s successful Tom of Finland Retrospective exhibition is closing there on December 18, 2011. The Wäinö Aaltonen Museum of Art (WAM) and the Åbo Akademi Library in Turku wish to collect works by Tom of Finland and material related to the artist.

Tom of Finland Foundation (ToFF) supports the desires of the city’s institutions and as a token of that support we have donated one of the artist’s works from our collection to WAM, acting as the Turku City Art Museum.

The gift is a signed, pastel portrait from 1971.

We are very pleased to help Tom’s family and friends in his return to his native region. Turku appreciates his Beauty and shares his Message of freedom.

The work was presented to the Museum on December 15, 2011 by Tom of Finland Foundation president and cofounder, Durk Dehner, a close friend of Tom’s and together they established ToFF on December 14, 1984.

Receiving the gift was Päivi Kiiski, Director of Fine Arts at the Museum Centre of Turku. “On the identity front, we are especially interested in Queer research, which makes Tom particularly fitting for our collection,” Päivi Kiiski says with gratitude.

Tom of Finland (Touko Laaksonen) , a native of Turku’s neighboring town of Kaarina, conquered the world with his trademark style. “From an art history point of view, Tom of Finland has inspired popular culture and contemporary art in many ways. A modern art museum is the best place for his artistic legacy,” Kiiski says.

Tom passed away in 1991 and now belongs to the world. He loved his homeland and he loved to meet people from all over the globe. On paper, he created a world so attractive that countless numbers of Queers sought to live in it and, in fact, recreated Tom’s world in their world – the real world.

Art of Man

Tom of Finland Foundation’s library has received the latest issue of the quartlery, The Art of Man.

“It is a fine arts journal that seeks to bring balance to a genre of art that overwhelmingly favors the female figure. Every edition includes an historical reference, an article on the fine art of the male figure, a directory of over 150 artists, and in-depth interviews with 5 artists that are courageous enough to focus on the male figure as a significant portion of their portfolio.”

ToFF is appreciative of this gift and the work of Firehouse Publishing.

You can find all seven issues of The Art of Man here.

Original ToFF Design by TOM

Happy Birthday to us! On the 14th of December the Foundation turned 27.

In 1984, ToFF, the nonprofit, 501(c)(3) Educational Archive was established. As Tom (Touko Laaksonen) had achieved worldwide recognition as the master of homo-erotic art, the Foundation’s original purpose was to preserve his vast catalog of work.

Several years later the scope was widened to offer a safe haven for all erotic art in response to rampant discrimination against art that portrayed sexual behavior or generated a sexual response. Today the Foundation continues in its efforts of educating the public as to the cultural merits of erotic art and in promoting healthier, more tolerant attitudes about sexuality.

MAY WE SUGGEST A GIFT?
GIVE SOMETHING THAT ENRICHES EVERYONE’S LIVES

HONOR THOSE WHO CREATE AND INSPIRE
DONATIONS —|— MEMBERSHIP —|— BEQUESTS
Donations are deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Thank you to Sean-Z, Dave Davenport and everyone at BENT-CON for an AWESOME experience.

Thank you to our stunning ToFF Volunteers.

Thank you to Rick Castro, Axel, Michael Kirwan, Blake Besharian, Sean Carnage, Roberto Gomez and Carrington Galen for illuminating.

We look forward to the THRILLS of next year. See more on Tom's Blog.

View the film on YouTube!

Tom of Finland died in Helsinki in 1991 but was actually born in the reigon of Turku, Finland.

Mies Mikkonen’s film documents the triumphant return of the permanent collection to Turku including some of Tom’s most iconic and rarely seen artwork.

Documentary: Finland-GB-USA 2011. Duration 10 minutes. Direction and screenplay Mies Mikkonen.

View it on YouTube.

Posted 12/15/2011

Tom of Finland Foundation thanks the California Boots & Breeches Corps of Los Angeles, Jim Neuman, Robert Green, Doug Beardslee, Alex Lindsay and all the members who put so much into their club and give so much to others.

Neuman, Pete Finland and guest at CA B&B annual Christmas party at TOM House, 2011.

You can find the California Boots & Britches website here.

TOM OF FINLAND, (Finnish, 1920 – 1991), Untitled, 1965, Graphite on paper, ToFF #65.08, © 2011 Tom of Finland Foundation

Stark Naked or Classic? Take your pick — or pick both! Two New Wall Calendars from Bruno Gmünder.

Without a doubt, Tom of Finland is one of the artists with the biggest impact on Gay culture during the 20th century.

Whether it’s a present — or something for yourself — Tom of Finland is always a terrific choice.

Tom of Finland, the man whose amazing drawings tell us everything about love, lust and life. Hunks who have a good heart and live a simple life. Every month a “story”, every month pride and freedom.

More on World of Tom of Finland

Todd Peter

Tom of Finland Foundation thanks The Barracks bar for busting ass at the beer bust benefit for us.

We thank our Volunteers, and we thank everyone who came.

Congrats to Mr. Palm Springs Leather 2012, Mr. Tool Shed Leather 2012, Todd Peter.

Cover of Tom of Finland: The Comics Volume 1

Boys will be boys!

TOM’s Men can be yours for the price of a drink!

Tom of Finland: The Comics Volume 1 is the most affordable compilation of Tom of Finland’s popular panel stories. This volume features 14 stories, including the first completed by Tom in 1946, and the last, done in 1986. Along the way we meet Jack in the Jungle, Beach Boys, Greasy Rider, Ringo & the Renegades and Tom’s most infamous creation, Kake, the ultimate leatherman.

More on World of Tom of Finland

You can pick-up ANYTHING at a TOM yardsale!

Thanks to our robust Volunteers and everyone who made the grounds look great. And the lucky folks who took home something they had to have.

Every contribution makes your Foundation more meaningful.

Image with the essay on Tom, he is far right.

A release of a new book on Finnish war stories, with a chapter on Tom of Finland.

It is a book of fear, death, grief and trauma but also one of survival and happy endings. It makes the memories of the war personal and understandable.

The essay on Tom of Finland (Lieutenant Touko Laaksonen) is by Lamppu Laamanen, author and publisher.

“After the Winter War on March 26th my generation got drafted, and April 6th 1940 I stepped in line of duty in the Finnish army.” This is what Touko Valio Laaksonen (1920-1991), Tom of Finland, writes in his diary. He is most likely the best known Finnish artist internationally.

It is night and the end of August in Viipurinlahti, Carelia, in the year 1944. Lieutenant Laaksonen is alone in the dark forest and almost stumbles upon a Russian who is assembling his parachute. Laaksonen sticks his bonehafted sheathknife in the soldiers back. The next morning he returns to the body, turns it around and on seeing the young soldiers face falls upon his knees spluttering and starts to cry.

The man is divinely beautiful. “I had seen the likes of him only in my dreams.”

At the same moment Lieutenant Laaksonen understands that he is responsible for destroying life and its beauty and swears that nothing like it will ever happen again. In the last days of the war he sends every bullet of his, past a human being on purpose.

Translation from the Finnish by Anne Nahls

More on TOM's Blog

Durk Dehner, S. R. Sharp and Eddie Jelinet with his donation.

Eddie Jelinet, artist from Long Beach, California has donated a work of his to Tom of Finland Foundation’s Permanent Collection.

It is a handsome homage to TOM and a wonderful example of the artist’s talent.

Nikitas Chondroyannos, Louie Pacheco Saenz and Durk Dehner. Photo by Jay Lawton.

On Saturday, October 22nd, BLUF LA (Breeches LeatherUniform Fanclub) hosted a special BLUF social and benefit for Tom of Finland Foundation, TOM's BLUF.

Over 45 BLUF members and men in full Leather attended the benefit, which was held at TOM House, Tom's historic home and headquarters of Tom of Finland Foundation (ToFF). All of the proceeds from the event went directly to ToFF in order to help with our efforts to document, preserve and promote Tom's work and that of hundreds of other artists.

The Foundation is greatful to Nikitas Chondroyannos of Vancouver, Jeff Gent of Los Angeles and all that attended for supporting TOM, his Foundation and all we do.

Besides a strong showing of locals, men from from Washington DC, Seattle, San Francisco and San Diego traveled to LA just for this event.

Photographer Jay Lawton had an on-site portrait studio which was very popular; most guests signed up to have their portraits taken in full gear. ToFF president, Durk Dehner, curated a special selection of original Tom of Finland drawings featuring men in full Leather or Uniform especially for the evening and ToFF unveiled a selection of new, limited edition, Tom of Finland prints for sale.

ToFF is very appreciative of continued support and assistance in the furtherance of our goals and is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) Educational Archive so donations are deductible to the extent allowed by law. Donations.

BLUF Website

Charles Stewar imparting at ToFF wiki workshop.

American Libraries, Tue, 11/01/2011
Libraries Tap into Crowd Power

The notion that a group of people with varying opinions, when aggregated, can result in better information than a specific expert could come up with—aka "crowdsourcing"—has been around for some time. It's one of the ideas on which the 10-year-old Wikipedia is based. So it seemed only natural when one of the most-consulted websites in the world recently posted a ubiquitous banner stating WIKIPEDIA LOVES LIBRARIES. What has resulted is nationwide "editathons"—editing marathons organized by active Wikipedia users to expand and add depth to the website's content on a wide range of cultural and historical topics.

At the Tom of Finland Foundation Library in Los Angeles on October 30, the "Queering Wikipedia Editathon" drew community activists, library school students, and members of the Foundation to create and update LGBT-related articles. Katie Herzog, director of the Molesworth Institute, helped put the event together and told AL that the meeting inspired dialogue about Gay history and generated an increased interest in activism for citizen-created content. "Everyone left feeling like it was the first of many to come," she said.

--- By Sanhita SinhaRoy, Asscoiate Editor

ToFF thanks Katie, Charles and Toni for making the wiki world – our world – a better place.

COMPLETE ARTICLE

Call for artists. The next issue's deadline is November 9, 2011.

“There are amazing Gay artists out there and we really want
to showcase great work.”.

Starrfucker Magazine is a quarterly homoartzine. Each issue is just $11, and a yearly subscription runs $45.

Starrfucker Magazine Website

Contact:: starrmaginfo@gmail.com

A Canadian artist who currently lives in Long Beach, California after several years in Japan, Steve MacIsaac’s comics explore the intersection of culture, identity, and sexuality: how gay men strive, succeed, and fail to make sense of the paradoxes and opportunities that present themselves in contemporary gay life, particularly the construction of presentation of masculinity.

SHIRTLIFTER #4 contains the second volume of “Unpacking”, MacIsaac’s graphic novel in progress, which he began in issue three.  The story is centered around a Vancouver graphic designer named Matt, who has begun regularly seeing a visiting businessman. The catch? The businessman is straight. And married. And their no strings relationship quickly begins to get tangled. This new issue also features work from Justin Hall (GLAMAZONIA, HARD TO SWALLOW) and selection of DICK strips from UK artist Ilya (END OF THE CENTURY CLUB).

SHIRTLIFTER #4 is an 80 page, full color comic distributed to bookstores through Last Gasp, Bookazine, and Prerogatives. The comic is available through Amazon and directly from the author via his website.

Little Sister’s Book & Art Emporium
1238 Davie Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Open 10 AM – 11 PM daily (PST) 604.669.1753

12” of Sin: ‘So Much Art You Can Barely Fit It All In’ is a juried show of sophisticated, intelligent, and clever erotic art sponsored by Sin City Gallery, Las Vegas. This competition is an extension of the commitment of Sin City Gallery to promote sophisticated, visceral and thought-provoking artists who challenge and inspire the viewer to confront established norms morally, artistically and spiritually.

The art is presented to encourage the patrons to celebrate the erotic as an expression of the whole person through the contemplation of artistic expression in form, color and structure. Sin City Gallery is known for creating art experiences that cause the viewers to think with their senses and feel with their minds.  No dimension on any medium can exceed 12 inches.

Participation in 12” of Sin is open to everyone and all mediums will be considered.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the art is to be donated to the non-profit organization, The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and its SADAP (Sisters AIDS Drug and Assistance Program).

All entries must be submitted and received by no later than 10/31/11.

Who's exhibiting at BENT-CON?

Some of the top leaders in the field of GLBT comics, visual arts, writing, film and the web!

BENT-CON is an annual convention to provide, encourage and promote emerging and established comic book artists, writers, creators and publishers of LGBT (Lesbian / Gay / Bisexual / Transgender)-themed work to be shared, inform and expressed to the broader general public; which also includes creative literature, film and other forms of creative expression.

"A comic convention… only Gayer. " Add your name now!

Beloved proprietor of LA Art Box Conservation Framing and supporter of  the arts, Michael Stevenson (1947-2011), has died this month.

A Memorial Mass will be held:
10:00 am Saturday, October 22, 2011
Saint Victor Catholic Church, 8634 Holloway Drive, West Hollywood, California.

Please consider rather than flowers sent, offering that extra support to a favorite institution or charity as Michael so often did.

The Landale Cottage Communiqué
Windon Newton, acting manager – 310.567.6310

Posted 06/20/2011

A look at one of the shirts.

And another!

GEAR Berlin donates to ToFF: New TOM T-shirts.

November marks the 20th anniversary of the passing of Tom of Finland. It is the reason for Berlin fetish store GEAR in the Kalckreuthstraße in Schöneberg to create Special Edition T-shirts with images by the Finnish artist of the omnipotent, gay macho man in leather and uniforms.

10 Euros of your purchase price goes to help support Tom of Finland Foundation whose mission is to protect, preserve and promote the work of Tom of Finland, and hundreds of other gay artists -- keeping our culture alive and thriving.

”A totally handsome shirt, rich in detail.
In black and white, striking;
in military olive, exceptional.
Thank you, GEAR, for Supporting Art”.

-- SHARP, ToFF VP | Curator

More info here.

TOM OF FINLAND (Finnish, 1920 – 1991), Untitled (Preliminary for drawing #78.18), 1978, Graphite on paper, 11.75" x 8.75", ToFF #0578, © 1978 Tom of Finland Foundation

"Our Collections Committee and Board of Trustees have unanimously approved the generous gift of the Tom of Finland drawing. We are thrilled and so appreciative of the generosity of Feature Inc. and that of Tom of Finland Foundation.

"Again, many, many thanks. We really appreciate your ongoing support and generosity". -- Lucinda Barnes, BAM Chief Curator and Director of Programs and Collections

"The Board of Trustees met on September 13th and accepted with gratitude your generous gift offer of a Tom of Finland drawing. We are pleased to add this work to the University of California, Berkeley Art Museum's collection, where it can be viewed by our students and faculty, and by the general public". -- Lawrence Rinder, BAM Director

The UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive is the visual arts center of the University of California, Berkeley and is one of the largest university art museums in the United States. Its mission is to inspire the imagination and ignite critical dialogue through art and film.

Posted10/01/2011

On Sunday, we here at Tom of Finland Foundation received some very sad though not unexpected news from the Netherlands.

Marteen van de Logt 2 (July 15, 1942 – June 12, 2011), the artist known around the world as Martin of Holland, died at his home in Den Haag, in the company for his friends and family, from an inoperable brain tumor diagnosed earlier this year.

Martin of Holland’s art appeals to very specific tastes, and to call it extreme might be a bit of an understatement. His passion for his favorite subject matter and his unflinching imagination set him a part from those who crave social approval or critical adulation. In a time when so many new and established Gay and Erotic artists are trying to “tastefully tone it down,” Martin’s works stand apart as both fiercely creative and proudly uncompromised.

Though many in his home country are unfamiliar with his works, his impact on one of the most socially progressive countries in the world was profound. As the last individual in the Netherlands to be arrested and incarcerated for producing and distributing his own pornography in the 1950s and '60s , the civil rights ramifications of his multiple year imprisonment helped insure that the generations that followed were free from bias and bigotry hidden behind and inside all acts of censorship.

We send our most heart felt condolences to his partner and his family.

Martin of Holland's Webpages

Posted 06/17/2011

George Wong of Montebello, California died on June 6 at 5:00 am.

George was very active in Avatar Club Los Angeles, his community — a loyal ToFF Volunteer and a tremendous help at TOM’s Bars over the years. All that knew him benefitted from knowing him.

The Foundation offers its condolences to the Wong family, who have requested privacy in wake of George’s passing.

Photo by Miguel Angel Reyes

Photo by Miguel Angel Reyes

Video by Roberto5247 Leather at 5:00 min ToFF at 6:36 min

A very special thanks to Miguel Reyes and all the ToFF Volunteers who made LA PRIDE 2011 so jubliant! It was s-t-e-a-m-y in the Erotic City tent and h-o-t out on the streets for the Parade.

The Foundation wishes to thank Jacob Prieto, his dad Arnold, and the wonderful folks at Green Float Company of Fullerton, CA for helping to fufill our mission. This year we had an honest-to-goodness float! Wow!!!

When Christopher Street West launched its Erotic City in 2002 – the goal was to be more inclusive by bringing more of the alternative community to the Festival. Tom of Finland Foundation was invited to be the centerpiece and has been proud to participate since. Thank you to artists Dear Angel, Baphomet, Hector Silva, Karoy and Mark H. Flanders for sharing their beautiful work with all the eager celebrants.

Everyone at CSW — including Rodney Scott, Louie Pacheco Saenz, Steve Ganzell, Sue Sexton, Karina Samala, and Thomas B.W. Nicholson — has the true knack for making everyone around them happy.

Congradulations to Mr. CSW Leather 2012, Neal Kenji Christensen. ToFF acknowledges that each and every contestant adds his own luster to the Leather Community and with them they carry the Spirit of TOM.

The Foundation has been Protecting, Preserving and Promoting erotic art — passing on the Power of Tom’s work, the Passion he has instilled in the Artists who stand on his shoulders, and reminding everyone of the Purpose of the Artist as Storyteller of his Tribe.

Posted 06/17/2011

Xavier Gicquel Photo courtesy DTX

Artwork: Xavier Gicquel

Artiste and friend, Paris-based Xavier Gicquel, donated two exquisite works to ToFF during his visit to the States this past March. The drawings; a preliminary work of a handsome male figure in a rumbled Tom of Finland tee, the other; a studly full-color leatherman in chaps and harness, were graciously added to the Foundation’s extensive Permanant Collection of beautiful erotic art.

We are proud to accept XAVIER’s pieces into our collection and look forward to be called upon to assist numerous other collectors, admirers and artists in both protecting and showcasing their work.

Xavier Gicquel (French) lives and works in Paris. After his studies at Duperré art school, he worked as a fashion illustrator for Pierre Balmain and Nina Ricci. He specializes in male erotic drawings. Among all his sources of inspiration, he often sites Domino and Nigel Kent. His work is regularly published in magazines such as Honcho, Gay Vidéo, Illico, Plan K and Projet X. Gicquel’s drawings have been shown in Paris, Los Angeles, New York, Berlin, Amsterdam and Milan. His first monographic book, Rough and Queeny was printed in 2006 for Bruno Gmünder.

Xavier Gicquel Website

Posted 06/04/2011

Cover of LOGAN

The second book by Ulli Richter, LOGAN (2011) is a rare pictorial essay of German porn actor and performance artist Logan McCree — aka Krieger — shot before his rise to fame in the spring of 2005!

Now available in standard and large collectors size at Blob, you can preview the book on the site.

Blob Website,

Ulli Richter Website.

Rick Castro, Stephan, and Axel

On Friday May 27, editor-in-chief for Bruno Gmünder Verlag's book department, Stephan Niederwieser, visited the TOM House to talk about projects that are currently in the works. Based in Germany, Gmünder is an international publishing house for gay books, calendars and magazines.

We also introduced Stephan to many local artists and kept him quite busy. A terrific dinner was served, followed by great conversations on the patio.

Bruno Gmünder Verlag Website.

The Foundation has a new profile under nonprofit organizations. Our previous one simply vanished.

According to the National Coalition Against Censorship, Facebook receives ever larger numbers of complaints for its removal of artwork, including globally recognized masterpieces, containing nudity. Its policy regarding artwork remains arbitrary.

So, join us on FaceBook, we're back!

The pod will be on the Foundation grounds.

PRESERVING HISTORY
JUST GOT A LITTLE EASIER

The David Bohnett Art Preservation Pod

$10,000 has been awarded to Tom of Finland Foundation from the David Bohnett Foundation (DBF).

We applied for this grant to enable us to have a climate controlled, fire proof and weather resistant art storage container at our headquarters, TOM House, here in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.

The “David Bohnett Art Preservation Pod” will reduce our need for off-site storage facilities and allow much better access to our extensive collections. We will be able to catalog and store new acquisitions more easily, improve the ability to rotate exhibitions at TOM House and give visiting curators a more friendly, “hands on” experience. Most importantly, the “Bohnett Pod” gives more artists a secure repository for the preservation of their work.

We are very grateful and thank David Bohnett and Michael Fleming, executive director, DBF, for their insightful acknowledgement of our mission that furthers the protection, preservation and promotion of our community’s heritage and cultural arts.

TOM OF FINLAND (Finnish, 1920 – 1991) Untitled, 1985, Pen & ink on paper, ToFF #85.28, ©1985 Tom of Finland Foundation

A thank you to the Barracks Bar and its owners Carl and John in Palm Springs for hosting our fundraiser TOM’s Uniform Bust, the Volunteers and Artists that made it go, and the attending men and boiz that made it so much fun.

Photo: Larry Kephart

To Our Most Respected Volunteers:

Despite all of the controversy early on, or perhaps because of it, Tom of Finland Foundation is very pleased to announce our most successful Erotic Art Fair Weekend to date, and we owe this prosperity in no small part to our Volunteers.

Our heartfelt thanks goes out to all of those who gave their time to help with the Reception and the Fair as well as the set up and tear down. We hope to see you all again very soon.

Bo Tobin — Event Coordinator

It takes an enormous amount of effort to present our annual Art Fair, and, of course, there wouldn't be a Fair without the artists and art lovers!

We are also extremely grateful to our sponsors: the City of West Hollywood, the City of West Hollywood Lesbian & Gay Advisory Board, the West Hollywood Marketing & Visitors Bureau, the Consulate General of Finland Los Angeles, the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, World of Tom of Finland, Ramada Plaza Hotel, Los Angeles Band of Brothers, Frontiers Magazine, The Leather Journal, Instigator Magazine, Odyssey Magazine, 665 Leather & Fetish Co., the Anvil Club, TomOfFinland.com, Faultline Bar, Sold Out Clothing, Eagle LA, and RocketmanLA.com.

So, to everyone that participated, a hearty thanks. We hope you had fun, and look forward to seeing you next year.

Durk displays award at 2011 WHLA EAFW Photo: Devin Robinson

The 2011 Southland Honors winners are:

Business of the year – The Leather Journal
Club or organization of the year – Tom of Finland Foundation
Event of the year – Palm Springs Leather Pride
Fundraiser of the year – Louie Pacheco (for ToFF)
Jeff Burnam Community Service Award – Alan Stroik
Mentor of the year – Mike V.H.
Person of the year – Louie Pacheco
TNG Award – Billy Nakasaki
Chairman’s Award – Pup Don
Chairman’s Award – Tom Pardoe

We, at Tom of Finland Foundation, are indeed very honored to have been recognized for everything we do. And we don’t do it alone.

“Whenever I was depressed or disgusted, I would feel him, that spirit inside, urging me back to living, back to drawing, I believe there is a lot to the world that can’t be seen or touched, and if you turn away from that — especially if you are an artist — you are avoiding an important part of life, maybe the very heart of it.” — Tom of Finland

Thank you Los Angeles Leather Coalition for giving strength to our community.

THIS DUDE GITS AROUND…

…BUT YOU CAN SNAG HIM!

The 001 Rebel is an officially licensed action figure based on the celebrated artwork of Tom of Finland. This heavily muscled and big-dicked figure makes a great piece to enhance your collection of erotic art. It's a Limited Edition, so once they're gone, they're gone.

How you can get your paws on a Rebel.

TOM OF FINLAND (Finnish, 1920 – 1991), Use a Rubber, 1980, Graphite on paper, ToFF #80.34, © 1980 Tom of Finland Foundation

A coffee table book by Dr. Kevin Clarke, Porn from Warhol to X-Tube covers the history of gay porn with hundreds of color-plates and fascinating facts.

It’s an essential and influencing component of art and pop culture. Especially when it comes to the self concept of gay men — pornography plays a very important part. Because no matter how the individual thinks about it: The gay rights movement and the triumphal procession of porn media happened at the same time and they have determined each other in a lot of ways.

The history of porn is damn exciting. It has come a long way from the discrete beginnings in the early sixties to pay per minute porn which we can see directly on our screen at home. This anthology leads us through the decades. It only shows us how the industry developed but also how the porn stars themselves have changed. From Pop Art to homemade 3 minute porn videos that we upload on x-tube, from dark cinemas to glamorous galas, the world is porn!

Editor Kevin Clarke studied musicology and literature. He worked for some famous magazines including the Tagesspiegel and the German Playboy. He is also the producer of several radio shows. Since 2011 he is the chief editor of Germany’s No. 1 gay lifestyle magazine MÄNNER.

260 pages, full color, hardcover with dust jacket, 8 ½ x 11 ¼”

Available through Bruno Gmunder.

Durk Dehner, cofounder of the Foundation, is interviewed by Jimmy Palmieri on Donkey Punch Radio. Durk talks about the Foundation and its mission, reminisces about Tom and talks about the importance of our yearly Art Fair.

Listen to the podcast of the show on LA Talk Radio.

Three statues were auctioned off February 27th at Just John’s – St. Louis’ premier nightclub for the LGBT community. The artist, Philip Hitchcock, named the proceeds to benefit Tom of Finland Foundation and Growing American Youth.

Mr Midwest Leather 2010: Philip Hitchcock of St. Louis, Missouri; artist, owner of PHD Gallery, supporter of Tom of Finland Foundation, member of Art Dimensions - St. Louis, Art St. Louis, HRC and the ACLU, Philip was chosen First place and named Mr. Midwest Leather 2010 in September 2010.

Philip previously sent us two checks, “...making a start here [St. Louis] with some fundraisers. More to come.” ToFF thanks Philip for his generosity, friendship and support over many years.

His book, Dark Impressions: The Art of Philip Hitchcock on his sculpture was released in the year 2000. He was included on the annual list of the 100 most influential gay men and lesbians in America by Out Magazine in 2001; “The Out 100,” for this book.

100 Artists of the Male Figure is a contemporary anthology of painting, drawing and sculpture, featuring nearly 400 individual artworks of the male figure in a variety of styles and media.
Compiled by E. Gibbons, it is an ideal resource for students, artists, curators, dealers, and collectors of figurative art. It contains contemporary works by artists from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas.

This book bravely showcases works by male and female artists from around the world that focus on this classic subject. Painting, drawings, and sculptures display broad and varied styles, including portraiture, studies, pop art, abstract, and photorealism. Introduction written by by Grady Harp.

Size: 8 1/2” x 11” • 375+ color images • 256 pages • hard cover • $50.00

Published by Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., 4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310; phone: 610.593.1777 or fax: 610.593.2002. Schiffer Publishing Website

Further information on the 100 Artists Book Website

Richter For Spexter — the first 100-page coffee table book by photographer Ulli Richter — is a sometimes humorous, sometimes darker look, at the Gay Male Fetish. It contains images created for a unique product catalogue for famous German fetish brand Spexter Munich.

Ulli Richter was born in a small East German village on the Czech border. In his early years as a child he was widely traveled, accompanying his parents to most countries in Eastern Europe. This fostered his interest in photography.

The book is available on Blurb, where you can preview the images online.

Ulli Richter Website

Michael Kirwan speaks!

Jimmy Palmieri and Angie Miller interview former TOM House resident artist Michael Kirwan on their Internet show, Donkey Punch Radio.

Michael talks about his work and how it has evolved from an escape to magazine illustration to social commentary. "Sex doesn't happen in a vacuum."

Listen to the podcast of the show on LA Talk Radio.

TOM OF FINLAND (Finnish, 1920 – 1991), Untitled, 1988, Color pencil on paper ToFF #88.04, ©2010 Tom of Finland Foundation

Tom's artwork appears in Logo's TV series A-List: New York. Watch the Mike Ruiz segment “ToF Transformations Based on TOM Characters” that starts about 13 minutes into the show.

Ruiz says, “Gay men have defined their aesthetic as a result of Tom of Finland.”

We couldn't agree more!

View this episode on Logo's Website and find other interesting programming here. NOTE: Not all programs are available outside of the United States.

Mr. Midwest Leather, Philip Hitchcock, is featured in an 18-month calendar with twenty leather clad (and unclad!) photographs shot by Shannen Green.

The sepia toned, 40-page calendar runs through June 2012 and sells for $24.95. Proceeds from the sale of the calendar benefit Tom of Finland Foundation and the Mr. Midwest Leather Travel Fund.

To order by credit card email Philip Hitchcock or call 314.664.6644.

TOM OF FINLAND (Finnish, 1920 – 1991), Untitled, 1973, Graphite on paper, 11.75” x 8.75”, ToFF #1106, © 2010 Tom of Finland Foundation

Tom of Finland Foundation donated this preliminary drawing through Feature Inc. — the Foundation's New York art representative — to AIDS Community Research Initiative of America (ACRIA) for their Annual Holiday Dinner last December. The dinner was hosted by InStyle Magazine and the Urban Zen Center at the Stephan Weiss Studio, NYC.

Scott Drevnig, ACRIA's Manager, Events & Art Marketing, thanked the Foundation and reported that "The piece sold for a very good price and we are so happy it's gone to a great home."

ACRIA was founded as the Community Research Initiative on AIDS (CRIA) in December 1991 by a group of physicians, activists, and people living with HIV who were frustrated by the slow pace of government and academic AIDS research. The group brought an activist approach to the study of new treatments for HIV and AIDS. Since that time we have contributed to the development of more than a dozen medications that have received FDA approval.

ACRIA added a treatment education component to its efforts in 1997 for people dealing with the virus. Today, their HIV Health Literacy Program (HHLP) also offers staff training to a whole range of AIDS and other community-based organizations, equipping these groups to integrate HIV healthcare and treatment education information into the services they provide.

ACRIA Website

TOM OF FINLAND (Finnish, 1920 – 1991), Untitled (Preliminary portrait of Chuck Renslow), 1981, Graphite on paper, 11.63” x 8.25”, ToFF #0640, © 2011 Tom of Finland Foundation

Tom of Finland Foundation donated this preliminary sketch that Tom did of Chuck Renslow to be with the finished work that is part of the permanent collection of the Leather Archives and Museum.

Chuck Renslow is the founder, in 1979, of International Mr. Leather. When artist Dom “Etienne” died, Renslow combined his collection of Etienne’s art with his own personal archives from his business and his life. These were the foundation of the Leather Archives and Museum, which Renslow co-created with Tony DeBlase in 1991. Renslow is the president of the Archives and has been since it’s conception.

Durk:

Thank you for donating the Tom sketch. It’s wonderful to have this at the museum, and exhibiting alongside the final work is a good idea.

I thank you for all you’ve done for the Foundation and keeping Tom’s work not only safe, but alive. While Tom and Dom did much to pave the way for future erotic artists, the road is still tough. The work you do through the Foundation to assist these artists is something to be proud of, for sure.

Sincerely,

Chuck Renslow
President

Chuck and the LA&M very much appreciate having the sketch to accompany the original work.

— Rick Storer, LM&A

Craig Owen was an invaluable Volunteer for our NYC Erotic Art Fair Weekends. On Christmas night he was in the hospital in intensive care, and “they thought it was not going to have a good outcome.”

He died in January. Craig moved from New York about three years ago, and lived in North Hollywood.

Tom's layout in Issue 46 of Clark Magazine

Created in 2001, CLARK MAGAZINE is celebrating its 10 year anniversary. For this 46th edition, the Belgian artist ELZO offers a cover “under the sign of the Rooster” and CLARK MAGAZINE gave “carte blanche” to 10 French and French-speaking guests.

ILL-STUDIO, the artist SAMUEL FRANÇOIS, THÉO GENNITSAKIS (La Surprise), photographer SCOTT BOURNE, LIONEL VIVIER (Sixpack France), the artist SOZYONE GONZALES, ANDREA CREWS, the label BORN BAD RECORDS, Studio HELLO and art director LAURENT FÉTIS, each introducing their world, their achievements, their favorite artistic and cultural interests with complete freedom.

The opportunity to discover unpublished interviews of artists like LAWRENCE WEINER, AA BRONSON (General Idea), the drawings of TOM OF FINLAND, the photographs of JOSEPH SZABO, YAN MORVAN, LESLIE KULESH & VIDA GASTALDON and SANTIAGO MOSTYN as well as the results of an utopia from ANDREA CREWS, the work of artists like BALDO, CHAIX, ELZO…

French photographer CÉDRIC VIOLLET depicts the French actor OLIVIER BARTHÉLÉMY (Sheitan, Redheads) in the streets of Paris for the fashion pages.

For this collector issue, artists 2SHY x RVO, STEVEN HARRINGTON, SPIT x MON COLONEL, AKROE and PABLO COTS wanted to celebrate the anniversary of Clark by creating exclusive artwork as a tribute to the magazine.

Clark Magazine Website
English Text of the Article Here

Per Helge Nylund Photo: Tomasz Wacko

Per Helge Nylund was born 1970 in Tromso, Norway. He holds the position as Exhibition Manager at Tromso University Museum.

Per Helge first encountered Tom’s art as a 15 year-old, and was “struck with fascination, not just for the excellent artwork, but with the very idea of gay men being depicted so naturally masculine – an idea that is almost self-evident, but perfectly put to the point in Tom’s drawings”.

“I really like the fact the someone cares for the preservation of Tom’s art legacy”, he says, “not just as a Tom fan, but also as a museum professional. The fact that the Foundation also cares from many other erotic artist, trying to widen the scope of Art and making erotic artists better known, makes it all the more worthwhile. I like to think of the Foundation as a good crossover point between my gay life and my professional museum life.

“I fully understand how important it is that ToF admirers all over the world take part in the guarding of Tom’s heritage to us… I am happy to be one of your northernmost members and look forward to (continuously) spread the ToFF enthusiasm here at 70° North!"

Per Helge lives in Tromso with his partner. None of them has ever been to the USA, but ace convinced that their first trip should include a visit to the Foundation’s HQ in Los Angeles.

The Leather Archives & Museum [LA&M] announced the arrival of Allison R. Wickman from the Art Libraries Society of North America [ARLIS] Internship program. She spent approximately 5 weeks at the LA&M creating a user guide for AIDS related resources at the institution.

Allison was the Tom of Finland Foundation Library Director for three years after which she interned with the curator of the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction. She currently resides in Helsinki, Finland where she is acting as the International Liaison for the Tom of Finland Foundation.

She is the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships, most recently the Art Libraries Society of North America Internship Award. This prestigious award grants financial support to students of librarianship, visual resources and curatorship, in order to support an internship at an art library or visual resources collection.

Allison has examined the LA&M’s oral history collection in order to create a user guide that focuses on dialogues relevant to the impact of AIDS on leather culture, community and art. She used audio files from these conversations and relevant images from LA&M’s collection in order to curate an online exhibition. The purpose of this exhibition will be to highlight portions of LA&M’s holdings that are relevant to the AIDS epidemic.

About Leather Archives & Museum

The Leather Archives & Museum is a library, museum and archives pertaining to leather and alternative sexual communities. The geographic collection scope is worldwide and includes all sexual orientations and genders. The library collection contains books, magazines, scholarly publications, films and electronic resources related to the subject matter. The museum collection contains original erotic art and artifacts from alternative sex organizations and individuals. The archival collection contains unpublished papers and records from notable activists, artists, businesses and organizations related to the subject matter.

As an international liaison for ToFF, Allison and her husband Wiki were instrumental in the success of the current Tom of Finland Retrospective in Turku.

Art Libraries Society of North America Website

Leather Archives & Museum Website, Allison's Project

To Catch A Thief: Why it’s not a good idea to steal from muscled men in leather and chains.

That's the title of Tucker Neel's article in Artillery Magazine (Nov/Dec 2010 Vol. 5 Issue 2) detailing the theft of eight works of art from the Foundation's Permanent Collection. Mr. Neel sums the situation up with a succinct style.

Read To Catch A Thief... on Tucker Neel's Blog, and see one of the (rarely published) works that was recovered. (Tucker first visited the TOM house in November 2009, and really enjoyed the tour.)

Artillery is an alternative contemporary art publication that reflects the vitality of the creative world today. They tap the provocative, with readable articles, intelligent reviews, in-depth profiles and pithy columns. Published in Los Angeles, they cover the international scene with contributors in New York, San Francisco, Dallas, Berlin, London and at the biennials.

Artillery Magazine - Killer Text on Art Website

From our viewpoint, the most important thing was that the works were recovered.

The cost, however, was great. There were several thousands of dollars spent on lawyer fees, travel expenses, overseas phone calls, and other financial outlays at a time that the economy (and membership contributions) tanked. Just as important were the countless hours President Durk Dehner and the Foundation staff dedicated to this unplanned "project" — and the emotional toll it took on all of us. Today, almost one year after this PRESS RELEASE, the situation is still not completely resolved.

MANY THANKS to our friends supporting us during these difficult times and furthering our goal to "Protect, Preserve and Promote the Erotic Arts".

A collection of Robert Richards drawings can be seen in the book Allure, published by Bruno Gmuender Books.

Richards is an internationally acclaimed artist whose subjects have ranged from the highest of high society to the lowest of low life. In the early 1980s, he began, drawing and interviewing every major male porn star who had ever unzipped for the camera, an odyssey which eventually spanned four decades.

Mr. Richards has created portraits of everyone from Liza, Peggy Lee, Lena Horne, and Warhol — to Casey Donovan, Peter Berlin, Jack Wrangler, Ryan Idol and Jeff Stryker.

Learn more about Robert Richards — and his recent Los Angeles exhibition at Rick Castro's Antebellum Gallery — here. Additional images of Robert Richards' work appear on Rick's Antebellum blog.

Tom of Finland Foundation hosted a dinner party for Robert at the TOM House on Sunday, December 5, 2010. It was our way of showing our hospitality to a man who continues to do so much in perpetuating the culture of the erotic arts community and queer culture at large. That's Robert Richards with the dark glasses in the center, and Rick Castro of Antebellum on the far left.

Purchase Allure through this Amazon link and help out the Foundation.

Carrington Galen

Carrington Alexander Galen was born in Chicago, but was raised in the farm country of Northern Indiana, and relocated to the West Coast after high school. He goes by the name “Carr”.

He has held a variety of positions from hair stylist extraordinaire, senior financial analyst for McDonald Douglas, did a brief stint as an entertainer, landscaper and artist.

He is currently pursuing his Web and Multi Media Design degree at DeVry University (but really just wants to be a better hacker). A resident of West Hollywood, and an avid gardener, Galen is actively engaged in improving public space through horticultural endeavors.

Carr works in the areas of Horticultural Management for the Foundation’s headquarters facilities, in addition to overseeing their recent IT transition, and all the various issues that arose.

He has lived in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Chicago, and almost Houston.

BRAD RADER'S Harry & Dickless Tom (cover), 2006

The Foundation would like to thank Brad for the donation of his graphic novel Harry and Dickless Tom — groundbreaking gay fiction.

This is unlike anything on the market. Not like great gay story comix like Stuck Rubber Baby, because there’s lots of sex in it. Not like gay sex comix because it’s got characters, plot, setting etcetera. Not like Gay Comics because it’s a graphic novel, longer than a single story. And it goes to the heart of the matter, bringing in gender, homophobia, what it means to be male, parental ties, marriage ties, and, as we said, a large amount of fucking.

So is this for you? Are you a consumer of pornography? Or of stories? One publisher told us that that was the problem—it doesn't’t fit into the pornography niche or the story niche.

2006 Gallery Opening for this novel.

Artist's Page with reviews, sample pages, and purchase info.

TOM OF FINLAND (Finnish, 1920 – 1991), Untitled, 1978, Pen & ink on paper, ToFF #78.56 © 2011 Tom of Finland Foundation

"As an author and art collector, I have a deep appreciation for the hard work and countless opportunities that the the staff and volunteers of Tom of Finland Foundation provide to the unknown, underrepresented and uncompromisingly kinky artists of the world. I am honored to work here as a grant writer and fundraising coordinator.

"Having worked and volunteered for dozens of social, political and artistic nonprofits over the last 25 years, I look forward to helping the Foundation achieve its goals of protecting, preserving, and promoting erotic art and those who work in the medium."

[On display: One of Bo's favorite TOM works.]

SATYRS by Ron Anderegg & Henning von Berg

The Foundation would like to thank Ron for his donation of Satyrs. The book was thoughtfully put together, with handsome results, and is a wonderful addition to our library.

Since my preeteens, I’ve been awestruck by the exquisite beauty of classical Greek and Roman sculpture. That sheer perfection of the human body, sculpted in marble by those amazing artists living thousands of years ago, has never been surpassed. Similarly, I’ve been fascinated by Satyrs, which ere created as fun, imaginary half men, half horny beasts — playful fantasy symbols of man’s favorite hedonistic pleasures…libation, song and sex.

Jumping to the present, Henning, my partner, first came into my life at the 1999 Tom of Finland Erotic Art Fair in Los Angeles. He was showing his male nude photography and I was exhibiting my 3-D collage work. Our relationship of mutual admiration and artistic respect prevailed and, five years later, this collaborative effort was born. This book pays homage to man’s favorite toy, the phallus. We dedicate it to all Satyrs past, present, and future.

Ron Anderegg, anno MMV

The coauthor is Henning von Berg and it is full of his beautiful photographs along with classical images.

“He offer’d it with downcast look, As fearful that I might refuse it; I told him, when the gift I took, My only fear should be to loose it.”

Satyrs is available for purchase here.

TOM OF FINLAND (Finnish, 1920 – 1991), Untitled (Sketch, altered), 1980, Graphite on paper, ToFF #1043, © 2010 Tom of Finland Foundation

From all of us at the Tom of Finland Foundation House: Our best wishes for a very Happy New Year!

Many thanks to all of our volunteers, members and supporters for helping us keep the doors open.

We've had a lot to be thankful for...

Philip Hitchcock, artist, and owner of PHD Gallery in St. Louis, has been a member and supporter for 15 years. As Mr. Midwest Leather 2010, his two major fundraising efforts are the Foundation and Growing American Youth, an LGBTQ youth organization serving the St. Louis area for 30 years.

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Our Fundraising Coordinator Bo Tobin did a great job at the Barracks Bar for our Fundraiser during Palm Springs Leather Week 2010, but doesn't take all of the credit. "First of all, our Volunteers were in top form. Esteban Jimenez, Leo Iriarte – Mr. Regiment of Black and Tans, and Manny Ramirez - Mr LA Leather Bear 2010 manned the door while Jake and Devin busted their butts to please all the people all the time."

"Secondly the folks at PSLOD, The Barracks, Gear and the Tool Shed did an amazing job coordinating this year’s Palm Springs Leather Pride. By working together, they were able to bring in people from all around the world. We send out our thanks to everyone who participated and donated. We couldn't’t have done it without you! We send out our thanks to everyone who participated and donated. We couldn’t have done it without you!"

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ToFF received a donation representing the proceeds from "Edge-ing with Michael Brandon” a benefit held at The Edge Bar. The monies were raised from the Jell-O shot promo by Gary Virginia, Mr. San Francisco Leather 1996 Event Coordinator.

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Thanks to Los Angeles Band Of Brothers and the Bullet Bar in North Hollywood for the benefit, WhiteBoys vs. Latins. Participants included: KryptoCub Mr. Los Angeles Leather 2010, Brad Taylor, Hurricane Ramirez Mr. LA Leather Bear 2010, Manuel Ramirez The Midnight Marauder, Brown Bear Tom Zapata, Jay The Boyfriend, Michael The Owner, Pretty White Boy Luke Jayden and Dirty Mexican Jake Dark. Photos of the event were captured by JayPG.

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Vancouver Men in Leather’s Pride event – a Tom of Finland themed fundraiser was a rousing success. The space was crowded from opening time and most if not all attendees dressed for the them of the night. Raffle prizes of T-shirts and a Tom of Finland Comix Collection were drawn as well as a 50/50 ticket. Also available for sale were t-shirts and fridge magnets, provided by ToFF for the event.

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The Los Angeles Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, under the supervision of Sister IlumiNaughty, presented a Queer Art Gallery held in LA's downtown art district with queer art, fashion, performance and music from over 25 queer artists and performers. Proceeds benefitedAPLA’s Crystal Methamphetamine Prevention and Education Program, Highways Queer Performance Space and Tom of Finland Foundation. The Foundation contributed to the event with works by Tom of Finland, Michael Kirwan, George Quaintance, Ingmar, Wes Lockwood, Muscle Boy Matt and Jakal.

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LiquidDREAMS created a Labor Day Pool Party at a luxurious private estate to benefit the Foundation with music by Dj Scotty Storm & Dj Wednesday, complementary food & drinks and hosted by beautiful mermen, mermaids & sailors It featured a poolside fashion show featuring The Golden Pool Boys of Summer and included a rock slide & cave jacuzzi. We're grateful to the staff and volunteers that pitched in for this event: Carr, Jake, HISseth, TJ, Lance, JAYpg, Todd, Durk, Sharp, Thomas and Toni. The Co-Hosts Committee consisted of Anthony Cortez, Miguel Angel Reyes, Alejandra Duque, Sharp, Kevin Green, Lorenzo Gomez, Rick Rodriguez, Brian McDonald, Ben Roman, Gil Rodriguez, Michael McCool and Viktor Paleyo.

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The Black and Gray Birthday Bash presented at Pistons Bar in Long Beach was a success with the participation of The Los Angeles Band Of Brothers and The Los Angeles Leather Coalition, as well as some very hot leathermen. Louie Pacheco. and Mr Pistons Leather 2010 Marcus Hopkins worked hard with Pistons new owners Robert and Koby to create an event men were talking about weeks later.

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On the east coast, The Desk Set presented Que(e)ry, with the delightful theme: "You don't have to be a queer librarian; You just have to dance with one!" Held at the Blackout Bar — a vaguely gothic, minimalist-chic black-and-white Greenpoint watering hole — funds were raised for Foundation and the Lesbian Herstory Archives.

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One of our favorite events of the year is the invitational Holiday Pot Luck Dinner where our volunteers and supporters get a chance to unwind and socialize, except for our favorite DJ — DJ RocketManLA. who kept spinning the tunes all night long. A special thanks to Mike Goldie and Charlie Z who really pitched in to keep things moving smoothly. Special thnx to Steven Richards for his hot Kris Kringle. Every single host knows they hosted a wonderful night – and a jumbo thanks to them: Bo and Louis Jay, JayPG for pix, Toni for BEING stunning, Thomas for being an EXPERT, John and his libations, the polar elves Jake & Carr, the endearing Kirwan and the delightful Devin.

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Josh and Steven modeled for our January workshop

When something works like clockwork, month after month and year after year, it is easy to take it for granted. So this is a good time to thank our Drawing Workshop coordinator, Miguel Angel Reyes, for guiding this project and keeping it on track. DJ RocketManLA is there as well each month with his fantastic selection of music spanning the very latest to the classics. A thanks to the attending artists that keep the workshops vital and alive. We also want to thank the dozens of models that have participated over the years. Without them there wouldn't be much of a drawing workshop!

Check our Public Calendar for future workshop dates!

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2010 saw three new ToFF Lifetime Members: Raymond C. Ginn, James W. Jernigan, and Per Helge Nylund. Tom of Finland Foundation truly honors all those who have committed. Together, we can — through protection, preservation and promotion — educate both our own community and the public on the merits of erotic art, its integration into culture, and how it produces healthier and more tolerant attitudes toward all aspects of sexuality.

We thank all our Members. They are the best ambassadors the Foundation can have. We count on each and everyone of you to help us spread the word about ToFF’s mission.

Maintaining The Legacy Comes With a Price

Tom of Finland has given us a legacy. Maintaining this legacy comes with a price: Careful storage, maintenance and accessibility, transportation and insurance for outside exhibitions of all the artists that ToFF represents – add up to significant expenses. Our library and archive unfortunately do not thrive on neglect – they need constant feeding to remain a dynamic part of today’s society.

The Foundation has traveled far – and we know where we want to go. We are asking you to help us guarantee that this treasure trove will be here for you to enjoy and that this cultural landmark will be around for others to savor. It is imperative we safeguard the institutions that create an environment where we all flourish in a life full of creativity and beauty. JOIN US by becoming a member, renewing your membership and/or making a contribution today.