Welcome Łukasz!

Welcome to the Artist-in-Residence program Łukasz Leja! We are so excited to see what you make during your stay at TOM House. He is a Polish fine artist based in New York City. Drawing from his own experiences in the city, he creates oil paintings depicting Queer love, exploring uniquely geometric figurations of the human body. He was awarded Grand Prize at the 2022 Tom of Finland Emerging Artist Competition. In addition to showcasing his work in the US, his art has been exhibited in Paris, France; London, UK; Berlin, Germany; and São Paulo, Brazil. In 2024, he held his first solo exhibition Home is where the h<3rd is at NAD Gallery in Brooklyn, NY.

Of his current residency he says,

After my first visit to TOM House, I was captivated by its beauty and the sense of community. Since then, researching Tom’s history and the iconic artists associated with him has become a passion of mine.

Since winning the ToF Emerging Artist Competition, I’ve amassed over 50 literature, film, and art books on the subject, and my research has informed all of my paintings since. For my residency project, I intend to merge my personal impressions with my ongoing research and any new discoveries from Tom’s queer library.

I am currently wrapping up my 3-year series of paintings on queer intimacy in small New York apartments. This marks the perfect moment to embark on a new project involving erotic scenes involving larger groups of people.

I’m excited to connect with the other artists in residence and I look forward to a summer filled with inspiration and creativity!

Published: 4th June 2025

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