Throughout the 1980s, Tom continued creating despite personal loss, the AIDS epidemic and declining health. After being diagnosed with emphysema, the disease and medication caused Tom’s hands to tremble, making it difficult to execute the finely detailed work for which he had become famous.

Did you know? Tom's favorite character, Kake, was created to show that masculinity isn't defined by sexual roles. Whether giving or receiving pleasure, Kake remained confident, powerful, and unmistakably masculine.

In 1957, a laughing lumberjack appeared on the cover of "Physique Pictorial" and introduced the world to Tom of Finland.

Tom's influence spread around the world. England's Teddy Boys embraced the style, and it later became part of America's unofficial biker uniform. It also appeared on screen and in photographs, worn by icons like Marlon Brando in "The Wild One" (1954) and Elvis Presley.

Life Drawing returns to TOM House for an afternoon celebrating male beauty and the human form. Featuring Charles Ryan McCrory and hosted by Rex Kung, artists of all experience levels are invited to draw from the live figure in Tom of Finland’s historic home. 🎟️: buff.ly/dfHZyZE

Tom grew up surrounded by Finland's rugged countryside. The farmers and loggers who worked the forests embodied a quiet strength that stayed with him for life.

Get your hands dirty with Rubén Esparza. Cut, paste, and create something worth showing off. GET TICKETS: www.tomoffinland.org/eventscal/co...

Tom’s world stretches far beyond the page. We invite you to the opening reception of "Tom’s Stretch" at David Kordansky Gallery on Friday 10th July, 6–8p. 📍 David Kordansky Gallery (5130 West Edgewood Place Los Angeles, CA 90019) ➡️: buff.ly/ymL2FrV

Join us for an afternoon of creativity at TOM House. Featuring model David Pereira Oliveira and hosted by Rex Kung, our next Life Drawing Session takes place Sunday 12th July, noon–2:45p, with the option to attend in person at TOM House or virtually via Zoom. Sign up: buff.ly/knqgunC

TOM drew men who smiled, who worked, who rode bikes, who loved each other openly as life itself, portraying Queer existence without apology.

"My work explores not only the intimacy Tom of Finland created, but also the broader spectrum of kink and eroticism shaped by other Queer artists within the Tom of Finland Foundation’s collections.”

“I’m passionate about uncovering and amplifying the powerful presence of Black men within ‘Tom’s world’, examining its distinctive, far-reaching influence."

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. Our Foundation would like to take this opportunity to highlight Ryan Davis, one of our Artists-in-Residence.

Show your Pride 🌈 Tom of Finland’s work reflects Queer life in powerful and enduring ways, shaping how many of us see ourselves and each other. How has his work impacted your life? Share in the comments.

While Tom of Finland’s hypermasculine style is iconic today, his 1940s homoerotic comics went unpublished for years and were shared only in secret. These panels are from one of those clandestine works, marking his early place in Queer comic history.

What’s often overlooked is the intention behind TOM's work: Every line reflects his proud belief that Queer people deserve to exist openly and without shame.

Collage Art-Making Workshops have brought together artists, friends, and community members. Don’t miss this afternoon of creativity and connection, where you’ll create and take home a one of a kind artwork. SIGN UP FOR 14th JUNE: buff.ly/yDEvi0C

Welcome back Artist-In-Residence Konstantinos Menelaou! His latest project, BULLYING (working title), explores belonging, exclusion, and connection within Queer male communities. Want to share your story? Submit to Konstantinos’ documentary film open call. Learn more: buff.ly/WRKYrSx

Gather, create, and continue your Pride celebration at TOM House with a special collage art-making workshop led by Rubén Esparza. Sign up: buff.ly/yDEvi0C

👨‍🎨Artists and creators have a unique opportunity to sketch inside a historic bastion of Queer culture this weekend. On Sunday, 7th June from Noon to 3p, Tom of Finland Foundation will host its latest Life Drawing Session at the iconic TOM House in Echo Park. READ & REGISTER tinyurl.com/pridedraw

We’re looking for volunteers to help staff our booth! We’re seeking enthusiastic community members to connect with visitors, share information about the Foundation, and help represent us throughout the weekend. Sign Up to Volunteer: buff.ly/iwCUoit

🌈 WeHo Pride 🌈 Come find us at the Tom of Finland Foundation booth all weekend for swag, smiles, and a little leather mischief. Event Dates: 6th-7th June 2026 Street Fair Hours: 12–8p Location: Los Angeles (Santa Monica Blvd between Palm and Hancock) Interested in volunteering? Continue reading ⬇️

Tom of Finland didn’t just draw bodies. He drew Queer people as they deserved to be seen: confident, desired, joyful, and human. Leather wasn’t costume in his work, it was identity, freedom, fantasy, brotherhood, and pride made visible.

This International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia, we’re asking our community to help protect Queer art and history.

TOM House is seeking volunteers and interns to support ongoing restoration, maintenance, and collections work. An incredible opportunity to contribute to the care of a historic landmark in Los Angeles. Email us at volunteers@tomoffinland.org.

TOM House isn’t just history on display—it’s a working archive where Queer art is still being preserved, studied, and created. This month, step inside the headquarters of Tom of Finland Foundation on a House Tour and experience the legacy up close. 🏚️: buff.ly/O0rZK1u

From Socrates and Sappho to Oscar Wilde and Elton John, LGBTQ+ individuals have shaped art, culture, music, literature, and history for centuries. ➡️ buff.ly/SlBDXKy

They functioned as working documents, but also as repositories of desire. Seen in this light, the collages are not ancillary to the drawings; they are their infrastructure.

According to Tom of Finland Foundation, these materials formed part of a larger archive through which the artist developed his now-iconic visual language. Cuttings were organized into categories, annotated, sometimes drawn over and reworked. Some photographs he had taken himself.