Kaarina House Lectures: Tom of Finland

Kaarina-born artist Tom of Finland (Touko Laaksonen, 1920-1991)

The lecture (in Finnish) will explore the artist’s life and art, led by lecturer Susanna Luoto,
Tom of Finland Foundation’s Producer in Finland.

Susanna Luoto by Pekka Järveläinen

Master of Arts, journalist Susanna Luoto became acquainted with Tom of Finland Foundation while living in Los Angeles in the late 1980s and early 1990s. She first came into contact with the Foundation while assisting film director Ilppo Pohjola in filming his documentary Daddy and The Muscle Academy about Tom of Finland.

Since the late 1990s, Luoto has represented the Foundation in Finland in many different projects. Her initiative included the creation of Finlayson’s Tom products and the Tom of Finland stamp series.

In 2017, she published a non-fiction book about Tom of Finland’s correspondence,  Salaisuuksin säättä – kirveiden, which opened up new perspectives on the artist’s life and personality. Before that, she had organized museum and gallery exhibitions in Tampere, Turku and Berlin about the artist’s career and life.

Part of the Turku Pride 2025 Program
Organized by Kaarina Cultural and Library Services in cooperation with Kaarina Community College

FREE – NOT MANDATORY

Location: Kaarina Hall