Credits: Tom of Finland Foundation
Touko Laaksonen (1920-1991), known as Tom of Finland, is one of the most internationally acclaimed Finnish artists today. He was born on the 8th of May – "toukokuu" in Finnish – in Kaarina, near the city of Turku in the Coast and Archipelago region. His work focuses on skilfully hand-drawn images of gay men, which was revolutionary at a time when homosexuality was still considered a crime.
"The characters in Tom of Finland’s drawings – lumberjacks, bikers, soldiers and policemen – exude vitality, joy and pride. -- His art has been liberating and empowering for countless gay men and sexual minorities for decades."
"Tom of Finland developed exquisite drawing skills. His influence is seen in the work of many notable artists such as Robert Mapplethorpe, Mike Kelley and Jean-Paul Gaultier. They were among the first to recognize the artistic value of Tom’s drawings, which have later toured the world in exhibitions."
Source: Kiasma
Contemporary Art Museum Kiasma in Helsinki opens an exhibition about the art and six-decade spanning career of Touko Laaksonen in April 2023. The exhibition titled "Bold Journey" will be open from April 28 till October 29, 2023.
If you'd like to read more about Touko Laaksonen and his life, visit the Tom of Finland Foundation's page at tomoffinland.org.