Nearly four decades' worth of erotic art history is on display in this Echo Park home.
I ’ve just entered a three - story craftsman house work up in 1911 that look rather unassuming from the curb of Laveta Terrace in Echo Park . It is , however , anything but . Recognized by The City of Los Angelesas a ethnical - historical monument , it is the former residence of Touko Valio Laaksonen , better have it off as the influential queer artist Tom of Finland , and a certifiable must - see hidden treasure in this sprawling city .
From the foyer , there is n’t a mere paries in survey . Pieces of gay erotic graphics in its many forms cover every open imaginable . house painting , photographs , collages , and episodic sculpture capture the manly habitus in a sensually queer but instinctive regard . Above is a Michelangelo - same mural with trounce male angel surrounded by clouds and rays of sunshine , their elongated and aroused body aimed toward the cap light . It is , on a much smaller plate , a version of the Sistine Chapel ’s famous interior , which is fitting given this space ’s history of worship .
Fans of the artist batch to this fix to verbalize their reverence and idolisation for the extremely masculinized homoerotic art in the distance better known as TOM House , which behave as the operating headquarters for the Tom of Finland Foundation , a nonprofit striving to promote Tom ’s legacy and artistry along with other LGBTQIA+ creative person of erotic art to control it take in the notoriety it merit in the region of academia and beyond .
As part of that mission , the cornerstone opens its doors to the publicfor regular tours , one of which I ’m about to embark on .
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Who is Tom of Finland?
" He still resonate , and if anything , he ’s bigger than he ’s ever been in pop civilization , you eff , in this timeframe right now,“Richard Villani , current creative director for the Tom of Finland Foundation , said .
Tom began his life-time , as you may have surmised , in Finland . He was creatively gifted in his adolescence , having been endanger to music , artistry , and lit at an former eld . His gaze was optical maser - focused at this time on a neighboring farm son named Urho , who would finally become one of the many gladiator - built , pierced - eye , and pouted - back talk muses of his signature style .
He found further brainchild upon serving in World War II , where he meet the character of uniformed gentleman’s gentleman that would occupy his imagination . He would go on to indulge these fantasy , exploring the plump , muscular organic structure he ’d learn and have his retentivity pad by creativeness fuel his penitentiary as he illustrate the manlike variant .
An interior shot of TOM House in LA|Photo courtesy of the Tom of Finland Foundation
As his art develop , so did he , becoming a prominent appendage of Hesinki ’s post - war Rommany dress and immersing himself in jolly cruising culture . But it was n’t until the end of 1965 , after being prod by a friend , that he sent his artwork to the famous American musculus magazinePhysique Pictorialunder the pseudonym Tom .
What is TOM House?
After years of working as a commercial-grade creative person in Helsinki , all the while rear his own personal study , Tom eventually made his way to Los Angeles in the ' 80s . The founding was established in 1984 by Tom and his retentive - time friend , Durk Dehner , who had purchased the home in 1979 . Tom had been persuaded by Dehner , who admired his initiation , which exuded liberation and an halo of unapologetic behavior , to relocate .
ab initio , the cornerstone served to file away Tom ’s art over the old age , but finally , it expanded to become a sanctuary for even more erotic fine art in response to growing secernment against anything that portrayed " sexually aberrant " behavior . Many of these archives and instauration are on aspect in the household , where art curations , programme , and community of interests events occur .
To this day , the Tom of Finland Foundation educates the public sphere regarding the respectability and value of erotic art while advocating for more kind perspectives around gender . The foundation is continually growing its permanent collection through donations of all manner of erotic artworks by artist of all genders and intimate orientation .
An interior shot of TOM House in LA|Photo courtesy of the Tom of Finland Foundation
The foundation also offers an Artists In Residence programme for creators whose guile focuses on amativeness . Over three months , they can bide in Dehner ’s rest home while create a thesis - orient optical project that they ’ll acquaint to the public at the ending of the programme . During this time , they have access to the home and all of the grounding ’s archive .
The foundation has made an impression beyond its own welcoming wall , too , holding outcome in Tokyo , Berlin , Berkheim , London , and , of course , Helsinki . This pridefulness season , Dehner was honor as the grand marshal of Helsinki ’s pridefulness festivities and was even knight by ordination of the White Rose of Finland .
" [ Dehner ] wanted [ Tom ’s fine art ] to be approachable to everyone . Tom was a heavy fan of Berlin and was a vainglorious fan of London and traveled a lot in Europe . And I think I mean , as rum masses , we ’re not just in one field , it ’s not just Los Angeles , " Villani allege . " We ’re a worldwide experience , and I think when you look at Tom ’s electronic messaging for not just odd multitude — because I think , you know , a lot of straight woman walk off with Tom — sex positivity , image advantageousness , what he wanted to do was instill a pride into mirthful men about who they were and to not have disgrace . "
Taking the Tour
Stepping inside TOM House feel like you ’re abruptly experiencing a higher vibration than the extraneous earth . Visitors are transported to a distance that feels safe , bursting with creativity and community . The star sign also double as a household home for Dehner and the origination ’s employee and volunteers . The belongings also features a " Pleasure Park " locate in the backyard . It ’s best experience in person with your own oculus — much like the enlistment — but just know it ’s the place to be come in party time .
" ' Durkheim ' jokes that he create the community of interests that he wanted . In his heart , he was a hippie and always lived in communal situations,“Villani suppose . “It ’s not just about odd art and Tom of Finland . I call back it ’s about all of us as a biotic community . "
Bearing witness to this community , Villani is both mortify and invigorated to spread the founding ’s message further .
Tom’s work featured in Physique Pictorial|Courtesy of the Tom of Finland Foundation
Tom ’s house is its own nirvana , celebrating intimate freedom and bear court to Tom ’s long - stomach calling . It also magnify those who continue to bring eroticism and art together and prove that sensuality and camaraderie can coexist harmoniously in the art cosmos — a belief that Tom also held .
" It ’s kind of more of a like , I do n’t require to say a fuck you , but kind of like we ’re not going anywhere . [ We ’ve ] definitely [ beam ] a very muscular content that there is no shame , and we ’re not going forth , " Villani enunciate .
An example of Tom’s work in the ’80s|Courtesy of the Tom of Finland Foundation
One of many community events at TOM House|Courtesy of the Tom of Finland Foundation
