“AllTogether” | Tank, Teddy of Paris, Valentine and Xavier Gicquel

AllTogether features artists from the Tom of Finland Foundation collections.

TANK (B. 1949 D. 1995, American)
Tank (born Paul Tankersley) was an artist who paid homage to the male form with a focus on the American cowboy. In 1986, when he started TANK Graphics in Dallas, he produced high-quality photo prints that he offered through the mail and at gay rodeos. Tank’s exhibition history includes solo shows in Chicago, IL; Seattle, WA; Long Beach, CA; and Dallas, TX. In 1992, the artist  passed away due to complications resulting from AIDS. His longtime friend and companion of fourteen years, Stephen Worley, donated over twenty Tank originals, numerous prints, and negatives to Tom of Finland Foundation, Los Angeles, CA.

AllTogether Pride Capsule

“I have tried to capture each model’s individual character and personality in my art. These range from the reserved and sometimes boyish charm of one to the raw sexuality of another.“ – Tank

TEDDY OF PARIS (B. 1961, French)
Teddy of Paris has been creating images of handsome, well-built men caught in various situations, from pin-up to S&M, since the 1990s. Having studied French and art history at Sorbonne Université in Paris, France, the self-taught artist developed his unique style over a long period by simply observing the classical paintings of Michelangelo, Tintoretto, and Caravaggio, as well as photos, comics, and the works of other erotic artists such as Tom of Finland, Etienne, Brad Parker, The Hun, and Rex. He has participated in Tom of Finland Art & Culture Festivals. Teddy of Paris lives and works in Paris, France.

VALENTINE (B. 1943, American)
Valentine (F. Valentine Hooven, III) is a freelance writer and artist. In the years leading up to Tom of Finland’s death, he wrote Tom’s biography, tracing the evolution and impact of his art on the world, with the book Tom of Finland – The Official Life and Work of a Gay Hero (published by Cernunnos, 2020). In 2015, Valentine received the Tom of Finland Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He lives and works in Palm Springs, CA.

XAVIER GICQUEL (B. 1965, French)
Artist Xavier Gicquel specializes in male erotic drawings. Previously an accessories creator for Pierre Balmain and menswear designer for Nina Ricci Monsieur, Gicquel also did illustrations for Honcho Gay Adult Magazine for more than a decade. Involved in minority support, he did illustrations for a variety of AIDS and gay rights associations. In 2006 he released his first book, Rough n’ Queeny (published by Bruno Gmuender Gmbh). Since 2012, he has developed his fashion brand JEKL. He has participated in Tom of Finland Art & Culture Festivals. Gicquel lives and works in Paris, France.

Discover more AllTogether artists

The exhibition tells the individual stories of the artists. At the same time, the exhibition locates parallels, interactions, and influences between Tom of Finland Foundation, Tom’s aesthetic impact, and the community of artists that have formed throughout the years around them…View

Published: 31st May 2022

Categorised in: Art Offering, Events