Sexy men for Tom of Finland’s 101st birthday

The artist Tom of Finland would have turned 101 this year. A pioneer of LGBTQ and erotic arts, Tom of Finland not only pushed the boundaries of homoerotic art and censorship in the 1950s and ’60s, but his images became intertwined with gay culture and the gay aesthetic of the 1970s until present day.

His stylized and exaggerated images of masculine men being joyfully erotic changed the way that many gay men saw themselves and their sexuality. He was sex-positive decades before the term was invented.

The importance of his work has progressively been recognized more and more in the late 20th into the 21st century. New York’s Museum of Modern Art has several pieces in their permanent collection. Solo exhibitions of his work have been hugely popular in galleries and museums from Tokyo to Stockholm, from Berlin to Madrid.

The trustee of The Judith Rothschild Foundation, Harvey S. Shipley Miller, said, “Tom of Finland is one of the five most influential artists of the twentieth century. As an artist he was superb, as an influence he was transcendent.”

In celebration of Tom’s birthday, Tom of Finland Vodka has created “Tom’s 101st Birthday Photo Competition and Charity Auction.”

Ten finalists have been chosen from submissions by photographers and the image that receives the most votes will be the Audience Winner, while a Jury Winner will be chosen by a curated panel.

Each of the finalist photos will be framed and offered for auction on CharityBuzz.com, with 100% of the proceeds benefitting Tom of Finland Foundation, which is dedicated to protecting and preserving erotic art, as well as promoting healthy, tolerant attitudes toward sexuality. To raise money for Tom of Finland Foundation, bid on each of the finalist photographs online.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE BY ETHAN LAIRD

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE CONTEST AND AUCTION ⬇️

Published: 8th July 2021

Categorised in: Events, News