The creator behind the bookends

Tom of Finland—artist, rebel, and erotic architect of an entire parallel universe. He didn’t just draw men—he built entire myths. Leather-clad gods with soft eyes, impossible proportions, and unapologetic joy. His work was bold. Discovering Tom at sixteen cracked my world wide open. Not only for the sex (though, yes) —but for the freedom. He made Queerness heroic, desirable, invincible. Tom gave us more than images—he gave us permission. Tom of Finland saved my life.

On a trip to Los Angeles, Durk and Sharp invited me to Tom of Finland House—TOM House—where Tom drew and the Foundation worked. Art fairs, residencies, and anything Durk could do to keep Queer art shining. I felt nervous. I didn’t feel like I fit the aesthetic— I’m not really a Leather guy—but it didn’t matter. I took a beautiful tour of the House. Not only did I see original works of art, but Durk dressed me in Tom’s actual leather. I sat on Tom’s bike, I strutted around. When the Thai food arrived, the gang dared me to answer the door. These people were my people. It ranks among the best days of my life. For me, this project is my tribute to Durk Dehner—who replied to the letter I wrote as a desperate and lost Queer teenager. I had found my family. I felt incredible.

Durk’s head

It was essential to me to make sure that the sculptures were as accurate as possible to the original drawings. With a VFX background, I knew how to reverse engineer and analyse 2D images in 3D. At times, it felt less like sculpting and more like inflating the drawing—building the other half of the story, since we only see the front side.

Early in the blocking phase, I specialised in head and facial details, while MonkeyGogo excelled at body and leather details. Then I fused and sculpted it all into one cohesive, 3D-printable form. We worked obsessively, yet playfully. Every crease became a conversation between the original drawing and the sculpture. 

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Published: 12th August 2025

Categorised in: Friends of Tom