• Log in
    Out.comFashionEntertainmentDesignLifestyleTravel & NightlifeOut ExclusivesNewsPrintWeddingsVideo
    ADVOCATEPrideOut TravelerPLUSADVOCATE CHANNEL
    Email NewsletterSubscribeSubscriber Services
    CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
    © 2023 Pride Publishing Inc.
    All Rights reserved
    Out MagazineOut Magazine
    Scroll To Top

    By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.

    Accept

    New Tom of Finland Exhibit Showcases the Artist's Rare Early Works

    Donald Padgett
    | 06/21/21

    New Tom of Finland Exhibit Showcases the Artist's Rare Early Works

    The Tom of Finland Foundation and Fotografiska Museum present 'The Darkroom' exhibition of Tom of Finland's never-before-exhibited early works in New York City for Pride 2021.

    Never-before-exhibited early works of homoerotic artist Touko Laaksonen (better known to the world as Tom of Finland) can be seen in a new exhibition entitled The Darkroom at Fotografiska in New York City.

    Produced in collaboration with the Tom of Finland Foundation and curated by Berndt Arell, The Darkroom contains some of the artist's early photographic portraits that served as reference images for his later iconic illustrated works. Many of the photos on exhibit were hidden for years due to the illegality of homosexuality at the time, and much of the accompanying correspondence with the subjects was destroyed. The Darkroom premiered at Fotografiska Stockholm and is the must-see event of Pride Month in New York City, running at Fotografiska all the way through August 20.

    Tom of Finland, Untitled (Val Martin), 1984, Tom of Finland Foundation Permanent Collection (c) 1984-2020 Tom of Finland Foundation

    The Tom of Finland Foundation and Fotografiska Museum present 'The Darkroom' exhibition of Tom of Finland's never-before-exhibited early works in New York City for Pride 2021.

    "Being aware of what society had denied homosexuals, Tom went about creating the archetype of masculine homosexuals who participate freely together in sex -- a decree from Nature herself," explains Durk Dehner, president and co-founder of the Tom of Finland Foundation. "Men knew instinctively that Tom drew with them in mind. Tom's motives were nurturing, parental. He wanted men to grow up healthy and strong -- in body and mind. He wanted to break the old cycles of self-doubt."

    Tom of Finland, Untitled (Val Martin), 1984 Graphite on paper Tom of Finland Foundation Permanent Collection (c) 1984-2020 Tom of Finland Foundation

    The Tom of Finland Foundation and Fotografiska Museum present 'The Darkroom' exhibition of Tom of Finland's never-before-exhibited early works in New York City for Pride 2021.

    Tom of Finland influenced generations of the LGBTQ+ community through his work. His work celebrated masculinity with subjects who were muscular, overly endowed, and often clad in leather or the uniforms of authorities. His unabashed and highly stylized representations of the male form and masculinity oozed homoeroticism, and the early photographs on display now in The Darkroom exhibition at Fotografiska in New York allow the viewer to trace the evolution of his work.

    Tom of Finland, Aarno, 1976, Silver Gelatin Print, 7.00_ x 9.75_, Tom of Finland Foundation Permanent Collection (c) 1976-2021 Tom of Finland Foundation

    The Tom of Finland Foundation and Fotografiska Museum present 'The Darkroom' exhibition of Tom of Finland's never-before-exhibited early works in New York City for Pride 2021.

    Laaksonen was born in Kaarina, Finland, on May 8, 1920. He studied advertising in college but also drew homoerotic art in his spare time. He had to hide or destroy these drawings because of the anti-gay laws in Finland during this period. He was conscripted into the Finnish army during World War II, and his experiences with men in uniform during this time influenced his later works. After the war, he skirted censorship laws in the U.S. by catering to clients in search of more explicit work via private commission. Laaksonen as Tom of Finland became more mainstream and influential within the larger LGBTQ+ community once gay pornography and the depiction of male nudity were slowly decriminalized.

    Tom of Finland, Tom Katt, 1984, Silver Gelatin Print, 7.00_ x 9.75_, Tom of Finland Foundation Permanent Collection (c) 1984-2021 Tom of Finland Foundation

    The Tom of Finland Foundation and Fotografiska Museum present 'The Darkroom' exhibition of Tom of Finland's never-before-exhibited early works in New York City for Pride 2021.

    There is a raw and honest air to the early works on display in The Darkroom. Most of these uniformed and leather-clad subjects wrestling or relaxing in 1972 are not the highly stylized representations of hypermasculinity with overly bulging muscles and genitals of his later more iconic work, but it's easy to see the creative ties between the different eras of his work.

    Tom of Finland, Untitled (Model in A-shirt and jeans), c. 1986 Tom of Finland Foundation Permanent Collection (c) 1986-2020 Tom of Finland Foundation

    The Tom of Finland Foundation and Fotografiska Museum present 'The Darkroom' exhibition of Tom of Finland's never-before-exhibited early works in New York City for Pride 2021.

    In addition to their contributions to The Darkroom, the Tom of Finland Foundation has also released Tom of Finland: The Official Life and Work of a Gay Hero by F. Valentine-Hooven, III. Hoover devotes an entire section to The Darkroom. You can also purchase special Tom of Finland 'Quicky Sticky' wallpaper (yes, real DIY wallpaper) and more at the Fotografiska store (www.shopfotografiskanyc.com).

    The Darkroom exhibit is open to the public in New York City at Fotografiska now through August 20. You can learn more about the exhibit and purchase tickets at the Fotografiska website (www.fotografiska.com).

    Tom of Finland, Untitled, 1977, Graphite on paper, 12.00_ x 8.00_, Tom of Finland Foundation Permanent Collection, (c) 1977-2020 Tom of Finland Foundation

    Latest Stories

    'Looking' Cast: Where Are They Now?
    Television
    Badge
    gallery

    'Looking' Cast: Where Are They Now?

    18h
    jamie clayton, rosie o'donnell, leo sheng
    Television
    Badge
    gallery

    7 Things the New 'L Word: New York' Series Needs to Have To Win Us Over

    22h
    Lukas Gage and Chris Appleton
    Celebs
    Badge
    gallery

    Chris Appleton Calls Lukas Gage 'Apple of My Eye' & Shares Couple Pics

    March 24 2023 12:34 PM
    Gleeworst
    Television
    Badge
    gallery

    15 of 'Glee's Worst & Wildest Musical Sins

    March 23 2023 5:11 PM
    Santana Lopez, Carol Aird, Taissa Turner, Shane McCutcheon
    Television
    Badge
    gallery

    15 of Our Favorite—But Problematic—Fictional Queer Women Characters

    March 23 2023 11:21 AM
    Serena ChaCha; Milk; Loosey LaDuca
    Television
    Badge
    gallery

    10 'Drag Race' Queens Who Got a 'Delusional' Edit On the Show

    March 22 2023 3:42 PM
    Monet X Change; Trixie Mattel; Jinkx Monsoon
    Drag
    Badge
    gallery

    Every Drag Artist Performing At the 'Drag Isn't Dangerous' Telethon

    March 21 2023 2:42 PM
    For a Perfect WeHo Day (and Outfit), Ask 'The Real Friends of WeHo'
    Out Exclusives
    Badge
    gallery

    For a Perfect WeHo Day (and Outfit), Ask 'The Real Friends of WeHo'

    March 21 2023 10:44 AM
    'Glee's 20 All-Time Best Performances, Ranked
    Television
    Badge
    gallery

    'Glee's 20 All-Time Best Performances, Ranked

    March 20 2023 2:39 PM
    Maluma
    Celebs
    Badge
    gallery

    Maluma Shares Nude Pics & Proves He's Still a 'Pretty Boy Dirty Boy'

    March 20 2023 2:31 PM
    'Drag Race's Salina EsTitties Has 6 Explicit Words for Ross Mathews
    Drag
    Badge
    gallery

    'Drag Race's Salina EsTitties Has 6 Explicit Words for Ross Mathews

    March 19 2023 2:16 PM
    Taylor Swift
    Music
    Badge
    gallery

    All the Unexpected Songs We'd Love to See at Taylor Swift's Eras Tour

    March 17 2023 12:11 PM
    Ewan McGregor in 'Halston'; Natasha Lyonne in 'Orange Is the New Black'; Jake Gyllenhaal in 'Brokeback Mountain'
    Film
    Badge
    gallery

    10 Straight Actors Whose Gay Roles We Actually Loved

    March 17 2023 1:50 AM
    Miami Dolls
    Television
    Badge
    gallery

    Meet the Cast of 'Miami Dolls,' OUTtv & Daddy TV's Newest Reality Show

    March 16 2023 1:18 PM
    Theo James; Jonathan Sadowski; Jesse Williams
    Celebs
    Badge
    gallery

    20 Male Celebs Who Did Full Frontal Scenes

    March 15 2023 4:29 PM
    Law Roach: A Short Timeline of a Legendary and Historic Career
    Fashion
    Badge
    gallery

    Law Roach: A Short Timeline of a Legendary and Historic Career

    March 15 2023 1:48 PM
    Rupauls-drag-race-queens-with-onlyfans-accounts-milk-sasha-belle-v2_0
    Drag
    Badge
    gallery

    All the U.S. 'Drag Race' Queens on OnlyFans (& What They're Showing)

    March 15 2023 11:30 AM
    Diplo
    Celebs
    Badge
    gallery

    25 Sexy Pics of Diplo That Will Make You Want to 'Lean On' Him

    March 14 2023 3:09 PM
    13 Straight Actors Who Won Awards for Playing Queer Roles
    Film
    Badge
    gallery

    ​13 Straight Actors Who Won Awards for Playing Queer Roles

    March 14 2023 11:22 AM
    DC Pride 2023
    books
    Badge
    gallery

    DC Pride 2023 Has All Your Favorite Queer Superheroes In One Place

    March 13 2023 12:00 PM