Tuoko Laaksonen, also known as Tom of Finland (1920-1991), was an iconic and provocative artist who rose to cult status in the international gay community and beyond for his work celebrating gay archetypes and masculinity during a time when being gay was taboo. Created in partnership with the Tom of Finland Estate, Tom of Finland: The Official Life and Work of a Gay Hero is a beautifully detailed visual biography full of never or rarely seen documents from his archive. The text was completed just a few months before the death of the artist and was fully approved by him--making this book the only 100% approved biography of this gay legend responsible for creating the muscled, mustachioed gay archetype of the 1960s and '70s. With an extensive biography, and suggestive photos and illustrations, Tom of Finland: The Official Life and Work of a Gay Hero brings to life the icon whose erotic illustrations of men influenced many artists, including Robert Mapplethorpe and Bruce Weber.

An immersive glimpse into the private, domestic world of one of the twentieth century’s most revolutionary artists. Nestled in a leafy, residential section of Los Angeles is the house where Tom of Finland (Touko Laaksonen, 1920–1991) lived and worked during the last decade of his life. It is an extraordinary place—part shrine, part haven, part art-historical archive, and part utopian collective. Still occupied by the men who resided there with Tom and dedicated themselves to preserving his legacy, the house serves as a living tribute to the artist’s astonishing oeuvre and his radical vision of unapologetic homoerotic sexuality. Offered to the reader as an intimate view of the man behind the hypermasculine imagery, the book moves from art-filled room to art-filled room, dining room to dungeon. Almost every surface of the house is covered in work made by Tom himself, or by those he influenced and inspired. For additional insight, Martyn Thompson’s revelatory photographs are paired with rarely seen preparatory sketches and unfinished drawings. Together, the compelling images place Tom’s work in an entirely new light, inviting readers to explore a hidden world of dreams and desire—the world of Tom of Finland.

All 26 episodes of the Kake comic serial have been collected in one volume--a reflection of a time when gay men were men, sex was carefree, and everyone wore a big, thick, mustache.

This is the second in a series of books chronicling the forty-plus years of Tom's career. His first RETROSPECTIVE sold over 25,000 copies in little more than two years. This coffee-table 8.5" x 11" volume contains over 200 works in 192 pages. It is done in B&W duotones with sixteen color pages executed during his career which dates from 1946. The subject matter is male portraiture & homoerotic depictions. His ability is to capture a quality that reflects a virile nature in his men yet still including gentleness & camaraderie. This artist is world renowned within the gay community & contemporary art circles. His work has been auctioned at Christie's in New York City & has been collected by such notables as Robert Mapplethorpe & Andy Warhol. The book contains meticulous photo-realistic black & white pencil works, color pencils & gouache paintings. Presently the Finnish Film Board is financing a documentary to be released & aired on their national T.V. This deals with how this artist was able to have such a significant influence on several generations of young men, forming their attitudes about themselves & sex. To order call 1-800-3FINLAND.