Tom of Finland
(Finnish, 1920–1991)
Biography
Tom of Finland, a moniker of Touko Laaksonen, was a Finnish illustrator best known for his distinctively stylized homoerotic drawings. An influential aesthetic force in late 20th-century gay culture, his illustrations were rendered in grayscale graphite and often featured uniformed men with exaggerated musculature and genitalia either performing or implying sexual activities. “I almost never draw a completely naked man,” he once explained. “To me, a fully dressed man is more erotic than a naked one. A naked man is, of course, beautiful, but dress him in black leather or a uniform—ah, then is more than beautiful, he is sexy!” Both the content and militaristic style of his work was informed by the artist’s time spent serving in the Finnish armed forces, and he originally began creating his erotic drawings for his own entertainment. The critical reception of his work has shifted in tandem with changing political landscapes—prior to the 1970s, Laaksonen's art was either censored or rejected by mainstream culture, whereas after the end of the 20th century, his illustrations have been championed by gay activists and fine arts institutions alike. In 2013, the exhibition “Bob Mizer & Tom of Finland” held at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles offered a comprehensive survey of his work, and Finish national stamps featuring Laaksonen's drawings were released in 2014. Born on May 8, 1920 in Kaarina, Finland, the artist died in Helskinki, Finland on November 7, 1991.
Tom of Finland
(120 results)
.jpg "Untitled (Preparatory drawing), 1962")
.jpg "Kake, vol. 1,")
.jpg "Untitled (From Prison Fun), 1966")
.jpg "Untitled (From Prison Fun), 1966")
.jpg "Untitled (Preparatory drawing)")
.jpg "Kake, vol. 8,")
.jpg "Kake, vol. 4,")
.jpg "Kake, vol. 1,")
.jpg "Kake, vol. 17,")
.jpg "Untitled (Preparatory drawing), 1972")
.jpg "Kake, vol 1,")
.jpg "Circus (XXII), 1975")
.jpg "Camping (XVIII), 1976")
.jpg "Kake, vol. 17,")
.jpg "Beach Boys, vol. 2 (Cover Design), 1971")
.jpg "Untitled (Preparatory drawing), 1985")
.jpg "Untitled (Preparatory drawing), ca. 1967")
.jpg "Sex in the Shed (VIII), 1975")
.jpg "Untitled (Working Drawing), 1974")
.jpg "Untilted (From the Buddy Series), 1969")
.jpg "Untitled (Cowboy), 1965")
English (US)
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