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Our programs
The original mission of the Foundation, since its inception in 1984, has been to preserve TOM’s vast catalog of work. That mission was expanded and the Foundation now offers a safe haven for all erotic art and artists.
Museum, Archive and Library – The Foundation holds a permanent collection of more than 1,000 original works by Tom and another 1,500 works by hundreds of other erotic artists. ToFF also has a library and archive at TOM House, containing over 500,000 books, periodicals, film and other forms of erotic images. The Foundation is one of the largest repositories of erotic art and is frequented by academic researchers.
Artist-in-Residence Program – The Foundation hosts erotic artists from around the world who live at TOM House for a three month period, providing them support and access to extensive source material for artistic inspiration, culminating in a public presentation.
Exhibitions – The artist-in-residence program culminates with an exhibition of the artist’s work created while staying at TOM House. In addition, ToFF hosts, curates and supports exhibitions throughout the world of both Tom’s work and that of other erotic artists.
Community Events – The Foundation sponsors numerous events throughout the year at TOM House and off-site, including monthly life drawing sessions, the annual TOM’s Bar, and the yearly Tom of Finland Art and Culture Festival. These events educate the public as to the importance of erotic art in our culture; the Foundation’s mission.
Safe Gathering Space – TOM House and the Foundation have created an inclusive environment for the LGBTQ+ community and their supporters, providing a warm, safe, fun space for people from all walks of life, sexual orientation and expression who enjoy erotic art.
Artist-in-Residence
BECOMING AN ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE ALLOWS YOUNG LGBTQ+ CREATORS TO LEARN, CREATE, AND SHARE IN LOS ANGELES.
The Foundation hosts erotic artists from around the world who live at TOM House for a three month period, providing them support and access to extensive source material for artistic inspiration, culminating is a public presentation.
Volunteers
WE WANT YOU!
Not only are people needed at the events themselves, but there are many other ways you can lend a hand. The Foundation always needs help with planning, advance work, distribution of promotional materials and general preparation. Please read about all that YOU can do!
Contests
2024 Tom of Finland Emerging Artist Competition
Entry to the 2024 Competition are now OPEN!
For Info, Rules and How to Enter
SEE THE 2022 CONTEST
The purpose of the Tom of Finland Emerging Artist Competition is to encourage artists to share their work by rewarding the best examples. The competition is open to any artist with the exception of previous winners of this contest, or artists who are already commercially selling work that portrays sexuality.
CREDIT: 1999 GRAND PRIZE (TIE), Photography: 1st Place, Jay Jorgensen, Los Angleles CA, Baptism
SEE PREVIOUS CONTESTS
More about TOM’s Foundation
Membership
Memberships are available at eight levels of giving. Members receive discounts when attending Tom of Finland Foundation events.
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Who we are
In 1984, the non-profit Tom of Finland Foundation was established by Durk Dehner and his friend Tom.
More about Tom
Tom of Finland is the artist name of Finnish Touko Laaksonen (1920, Kaarina – 1991, Helsinki). He signed his erotic work “Tom”, and when his drawings were first published in 1957, the now world-famous “Tom of Finland” was born. “Touko Laaksonen” was kept for family and colleagues; both friends and fans have always simply called him “Tom”.
Exhibition history
A comprehensive list of Tom of Finland’s exhibitions, public collections, and publications; dating all the way back to 1976.
Take a tour
Take a tour of TOM House, where Tom lived and worked for the last decade of his life.