Tom of Finland

For 40 years the artist Tom of Finland has been a major gay icon. His drawings had a huge impact on gay self-image in an era when the prevailing opinion was that homosexual men were wimps and pansies.

Tom’s pictures instead portray self-confident macho men with enormous, swelling muscles, huge phalluses, tight trousers and small vests. He has had a decisive influence on gay culture since he was the first to link masculinity with homosexuality.

Tom of Finland, whose real name was Touko Laaksonen (1920–1991) is represented in several museums, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York. In 2009, he was featured in the Nordic Pavilion at the Venice Biennial.

Presented by Kulturhuset in association with Homotopia Liverpool and Tom of Finland Foundation Los Angeles.
Supported by Turku 2011 European Capital of Culture.