TOM OF FINLAND
A CREATOR OF GAY CULTURE
Tom of Finland was an original pioneer, who 50 years ago drew a world based in his ideals that have entered culture. His art transcends the physical realm as it speaks to universal emotions by showcasing a whimsical, unbridled spirit that exists us all.
Tom of Finland has influenced the aesthetic of icons such as Freddie Mercury and trends including the modern civil rights movements. Today his work can be seen in galleries and museums around the world, pop-culture and film. Books on Tom and his art are commonplace in bookstores and museum gift shops.
TOM OF FINLAND
“Tom of Finland is one of the five most influential artists of the 20th century. As an artist he was superb, as an influence he was transcendent.”
-Harvey S. Shipley Miller, The Judith Rothschild Foundation
“I want to show that gays can feel happy together – that they have a right to be happy together.”
-Tom of Finland
”The mention of Tom of Finland produces smiles, ears at attention. He is the man we all wish we could be, the kind of man all women wish they could meet. Tom of Finland is the embodiment of all things favorable in life. His work is part of the fabric of Western culture.”
– Durk Dehner, Tom of Finland Foundation
Photo: Philip Stuart