Growing our Artist-in-Residence Program

New advisor members

The History

The tradition began in 2011 and over the years Tom of Finland Foundation’s Artist-in-Residence Program has grown and currently hosts twelve LGBTQ+ artists from around the world annually at the historic TOM House.

The Program

The Artist-in-Residence Program offers emerging and established Queer artists a unique opportunity to live and work in the same space that inspired Tom of Finland himself. With stays up to three months, each visiting artist is provided opportunities to engage with the Foundation’s extensive historical collections and archives and at the same time each is encouraged to cultivate their freedom of expression and explore their distinct creative practices.

The Development

In order to improve the Program long term, we have established an Artist-in-Residence Advisory Committee composed of our President & Cofounder Durk Dehner, our CEO, staff, a member of the Board of Directors, and prominent art professionals and artists from Tom of Finland Foundation’s global community to assist in nurturing the emerging talent of our visiting artists and to build new levels of support for their artistic practice.

It is with great pleasure that Tom of Finland Foundation
introduces its first three advisor members,
who each serve a two-year term.

Carta Monir

Carta Monir is a writer, performance artist, an alumni of the Tom of Finland Foundation Artist-in-Residence Program. Her work is explicit and deeply vulnerable, dealing with her transness, disability, trauma, and resilience towards pain. Her work has recently been exhibited in the Foundation’s Art & Culture Festival in Berlin as well as the Leather Archives and Museum in Chicago.

Bernard Leibov

Bernard Leibov is the Founder and Director of BoxoPROJECTS, a residency and programming initiative based in Joshua Tree, California. He is also cofounder and cocurator of the Joshua Treenial. Prior to moving to California, Bernard was Deputy Director of Judd Foundation in New York and Marfa. He also operated a non-traditional gallery space in New York City which featured artists from regions beyond urban centers. Additionally, Bernard manages an art gallery for the Joshua Tree National Park and is the Director of the David Mackenzie Estate.

Rick Herron

Rick Herron is an independent curator based in Los Angeles, California. He has curated projects at Spritmuseum and CFHILL in Stockholm, Sweden; and the Spring/Break Art Show, Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art, New York City. His work also has brought him to VisualAIDS, Jagar Los Angeles, BRIC Arts, the LGBT Center, HERE Arts, Chashama, and others. From 2007 to 2016, he worked at New Museum, in New York City where he was Senior Manager of Visitor Services. He received his BA in English and Art History at Oakland University, Rochester, MI, and his MA in Curatorial Practice at the University of Bergen, Norway.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT IT ⬇️

Published: 7th September 2024

Categorised in: News