This summer, Artists Space is hosting Tom of Finland: The Pleasure of Play, the first-ever comprehensive show of Finland’s work including collages, gouaches, and childhood drawings along with a cavalcade of the x-rated drawings that have made the artist a legend. Artists Space is also selling a custom Tom of Finland t-shirt by 2015 Paper beautiful people Eckhaus Latta. Laaksonen, who studied advertising and worked at the ad agency McCann Erickson until the '70s, was a fascinating character who bonded with another gay icon, Robert Mapplethorpe. It was the American photographer who helped Laaksonen get his first gallery show in America in 1980. Now nearly 25 years after his death, Tom of Finland is getting the retrospective treatment his legendary status demands.
Preview images from the show below, which is open June 14th through August 23rd.
Tom of Finland
Untitled>, 1947
Gouache on paper
11.38 x 8.13 inches
Courtesy Tom of Finland Foundation, Los Angeles
Tom of Finland
Untitled, 1953
Graphite on paper
Courtesy Tom of Finland Foundation, Los Angeles
Tom of Finland
Untitled, 1962
Graphite on paper
11.63 x 8.25 inches
Courtesy Tom of Finland Foundation, Los Angeles
Tom of Finland
Untitled, 1967
Graphite on paper
Courtesy Tom of Finland Foundation, Los Angeles
Tom of Finland
Untitled, 1967
Graphite on paper
Courtesy Tom of Finland Foundation, Los Angeles
Tom of Finland
Untitled, 1975
Gouache on paper
10.5 x 8.5 inches
Courtesy Tom of Finland Foundation, Los Angeles
Tom of Finland
Untitled, 1976
Graphite on paper
Courtesy Tom of Finland Foundation, Los Angeles
Tom of Finland
Untitled, 1985
Graphite on paper
11.75 x 8.25 inches
Courtesy Tom of Finland Foundation, Los Angeles
Tom of Finland
Untitled, ca. 1975
Mixed media on paper
11.63 x 8.25 inches
Courtesy Tom of Finland Foundation, Los Angeles
Eckhaus Latta x Tom of Finland
Artists Space T-shirt Edition
$100
Available at Artists Space Books & Talks, 55 Walker Street
Photography by Peter Tomka