Tom of Finland: The Official Life and Work of a Gay Hero by F. Valentine Hooven (Hardback)

Tom of Finland, born Touko Laaksonen (1920–1991), was an iconic and ground-breaking artist who rose to cult status within the international queer community and far beyond, celebrated for his work honouring the male figure and masculinity at a time when being homosexual was deeply taboo.

Created in partnership with the Tom of Finland Foundation, Tom of Finland: The Official Life and Work of a Gay Hero is a beautifully detailed account, filled with never, or rarely, seen materials drawn from his personal archive. The text was completed just a few months before the artist’s death, and he was interviewed at length for it, making this the only fully approved biography of the legend responsible for creating the muscled, moustachioed gay archetype of the 1960s and ’70s.

Featuring a foreword by Jean Paul Gaultier, an extensive history and a wealth of illustrations, this remarkable volume brings to life the story of an icon whose depictions of men would go on to influence a host of other artists, among them Robert Mapplethorpe and Bruce Weber.

Please note this book contains highly explicit, sexually graphic illustrations that leave very little to the imagination, in keeping with the erotic nature of the artist’s work. Perfect for readers who love art and design, LGBTQ+ history and biography, and a bold, beautifully produced tribute to one of the most influential and celebrated queer artists of the twentieth century.