Tom of Finland: The Official Life and Work of a Gay Hero

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.


Author: F. Valentine Hooven
Publisher: Cernunnos
Published: 09/01/2020
Pages: 256
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 3.80lbs
Size: 11.50h x 8.80w x 1.00d
ISBN13: 9782374951331
ISBN10: 2374951332
BISAC Categories:
- Social Science | LGBTQ+ Studies | Gay Studies
- Art | Subjects & Themes | Human Figure
- Biography & Autobiography | LGBTQ+

About the Author
Philadelphia native F. Valentine Hooven III is a freelance writer and illustrator who lives in Palm Springs. In the years leading up to Tom of Finland's death, Hooven wrote Tom's biography, tracing the evolution and impact of his art on the world.