Tom of Finland Art & Culture Festival is two days of artists, vendors, and performers

The 26th Tom of Finland Art Festival — Tom of Finland 101: RAW Anatomy will open the first week of December.

The event will feature erotic artists, vendors, performers, DJs, and galleries.

Finnish artist Tom of Finland (born Touko Laaksonen), created unapologetic, stylized sexual drawings of leather-clad studs and nude muscle men in the 1950s through the 1980s that helped shape the fantasies and fetishes of generations of gay men and inspire gay revolution.

Tom arrived in Los Angeles in 1978 to showcase his artwork in a solo exhibit. The success of the show led him to become a frequent traveler to the region. The erotic art pioneer lived in a two-story Craftsman home in Echo Park, owned by Durk Dehner, who invited Tom to use the house as his local studio and residence.

In 1984, Tom and Dehner founded Tom of Finland Foundation, in TOM House, to preserve and promote his work. The artist died in 1991.

Phenakite, the Los Angeles Times 2021 Restaurant of the Year, boasting a Michelin Star, will host a fundraising dinner at Second Home for Tom of Finland Foundation Friday.

The Tom of Finland Art & Culture Festival will take place at Second Home near Little Armenia. During the festival, Tom of Finland Foundation will also present its annual awards for Lifetime Achievement to Lloyd L. Clayton, Artist Hall of Fame to Martín Sorrondeguy, and an achievement award to Suzanne Shifflett.

In addition to the in-person festival, an online viewing room will launch on the Tom of Finland website simultaneously: The online viewing room will feature a special U.K. section.

READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE BY PHILLIP ZONKEL

Published: 29th November 2021

Categorised in: Events