1. Tom of Finland needs no introduction. He is best known for his groundbreaking homoerotic iconography, which has been a major influence on late twentieth century gay culture. Touko Laaksonen, AKA Tom of Finland, has produced more than 3500 illustrations.
2. Kake, by Tom of Finland Out of all of Tom's creations, 'Kake' must have been his favorite, because he drew at least 26 complete illustrated stories of his sexploits, amounting to over 500 drawings.

The complete adventures of Kake, Tom of Finland‘s dark-haired, mustached leatherman, who travelled the world on his motorcycle to spread the seeds of ecstatically explicit gay sex. See Tom’s own personal fantasies lived out in these 26 episodes of mustaches, muscles and liberated libido, now some of the most famous cartoons in the history.

Avant-garde, provocative, subversive and rebellious
– Tom of Finland stamped historywith his recognizable artistic style.
A virtuoso of drawing, he fashioned the silhouette of a new Gay man
– strong, confident, joyful and assertive
– fully participating in the visibility and recognition of the nascent Homosexual movement.

With text authorized by the artist himself
a few months before his death, and
published in partnership with Tom of Finland Foundation,
this illustrated biography reveals a life of art, pleasure and liberation.

Tom of Finland (born Tuoko Laaksonen, 1920–1991), was an iconic and ground-breaking artist who rose to cult status in the international queer community and beyond for his work celebrating the male figure and masculinity during a time when being homosexual was taboo. Created in partnership with Tom of Finland Foundation, Tom of Finland: The Official Life and Work of a Gay Hero is a beautifully detailed account full of never, or rarely seen, materials from his archive.

The text was completed just a few months before the death of the artist and he was interviewed at length for it—making this book the only fully approved biography of the legend responsible for creating the muscled, mustachioed gay archetype of the 1960s and ’70s. With a foreword by Jean Paul Gaultier, an extensive history, and provocative photos and illustrations, Tom of Finland: The Official Life and Work of a Gay Hero brings to life the story of the icon whose erotic depictions of men influenced many artists, including Robert Mapplethorpe and Bruce Weber.

The Official Life and Work of a Gay Hero contains a stunning 60 page portfolio where the reader discovers every technique and style from Tom’s nearly fifty year career. It has sections devoted to two impressive 2020 Tom of Finland exhibitions – Love and Liberation and The Darkroom, with introductory text from their curators.

YOU CAN ORDER HERE

Kake Tom Of Finland Pictures

Biography released to coincide with 100th anniversary of @TomsFoundationhttps://t.co/c9S8p0Cfw1

— DNA (@DNAmagazine) September 4, 2020

In full celebration of Tom of Finland’s 100th birthday, the work by F. Valentine Hooven III receives a new edition. In Tom’s creations, he instituted male archetypes, inspired by the people he meets: loggers, motorcycle policemen, sailors, businessmen, bikers, men dressed in leather. The most famous erotic representation of Tom from Finland is still the “Kake” today. By Aldric Warnet

Tom of Finland: The Official Life and Work of a Gay Hero (by F. Valentine Hooven III) is a beautifully detailed account…

Posted by Metrosource on Tuesday, September 1, 2020

TOM OF FINLAND – THE OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY IS HERE!#TomOfFinland ↔️ #TOMGayHero

From @ABRAMSbooks for #TOMs100

READ ABOUT IT IN @wearemeanshappy
👇https://t.co/eLghCmo4bz@Gaydar#LGBTHistory#QueerHistory#GayHistory#ArtHistory#ArtBook#Biography#TomOfFinlandFoundationpic.twitter.com/UKqVbUZTVe

Tom Of Finland Complete Kake Comics

— Tom of Finland (@TomsFoundation) September 2, 2020

YOU CAN ORDER HERE

Published: 18th August 2020

Kake Tom Of Finland Vintage

Kake Tom Of Finland Pictures

Categorised in: Article, Durk on Tom