Major LGBTQ+ artist exhibition in West Hollywood

Image Credit: STUART SANDFORD, Polaroid Collage XXII, 2020,
Archival pigment print on paper, Edition 2/3, 20″ x 20″

Tom of Finland Foundation presents FXLK PLAY: Artists-in-Mischief, Mythmaking, and Devotion, its inaugural group exhibition of work by the more than 60 LGBTQ+ artists from around the world who have been granted residencies at the historic TOM House in Echo Park.

“The exhibition proposes Tom of Finland as a modern folk hero, with his move to Los Angeles marking a shift from underground icon to something larger: a storied figure whose image is continually rewritten through the desires, anxieties, and fantasies of Queer life today,” said. Jamison Edgar, curator.  “At TOM House, the artists-in-residence are at the center of this work. They don’t simply reflect Tom’s life, they continually remake it: In doing so, they become the orators of his evolving legacy, carrying it forward into the future,” they said.

Organized into four thematic sections, the exhibition explores themes of mythology, devotion and erotic mischief and is an opportunity to recognize the accomplishments of our Artist-in-Residence Program alumni.

This exhibition and the related free public programs—all happening in a landmark West Hollywood location that has long been a Queer space—showcases ToFF’s dedication to creating a welcoming environment for all LGBTQ+ identities, ethnicities, and backgrounds, as well as deepening the Foundation’s relevance in the current moment.

ToFF artists-in-residence have a wide range of career achievements both before and after their time at TOM House. Examples include Pol Anglada, who has collaborated on capsule collections and prints with fashion brands such as Moncler, JW Anderson, Phipps, and Ami. He has created artwork for magazines such as Gay Letter, Butt, Têtu, Kink, and more.

Another notable ToFF artist-in-residence is Stuart Sandford, a multidisciplinary artist. Working across various media, he has exhibited his work worldwide, notably at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit and the Centre de la Photographie in Geneva. His work has appeared in numerous publications and is included in several prominent collections, including the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Photography Collection, the Ömer Koç Collection, and the Rennie Collection. Sandford is a member of the Royal Society of Sculptors.

Exhibition Manager: Catalina Bulgach

The exhibition runs 19th February–19th March
Thursdays through Sundays, Noon–5p

Docents on site

SEE ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Published: 29th July 2025

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