Leather daddies unite!

A weekend-long celebration of Tom of Finland unfolds at Ace Hotel & Swim Club.

Terry Miller

Tom of Finland was the influential Finnish artist whose groundbreaking drawings — rendered from the 1940s until he died in 1991 — captured virile men in acts of homoerotic desire. In his art, the master draftsman created an imaginative, affirming universe that empowered Gay men and instigated real-life liberation movements.

TOM’s Weekend, a celebration of the artist and the culture he created, is set for Nov. 4–6 at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club in Palm Springs. “This amazing collaboration allows us to bring together artists, followers, and talents in a dynamic environment as a true Tom of Finland experience,” says S.R. Sharp, CXO of Tom of Finland Foundation, whose mission is to protect, preserve, and promote the erotic arts.

Tom of Finland fueled his controversial artwork with his own illicit experiences as a solider during World War II — in an era (and country) that shunned homosexuality — and gained a fervent underground following for his aesthetic audacity. Toward the end of his career, the artist turned his attention toward Black men to make a bold political statement on race.

Tom of Finland Foundation aims to showcase cultural merits of erotic art and promote healthier, more tolerant attitudes about sexuality overall.

READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE BY STEVEN BILLER

Published: 2nd November 2022

Categorised in: Events, News