The Tom of Finland Foundation is marking its 40th anniversary with the Tom of Finland Art & Culture Festival 2024, set to take place in Los Angeles from 29th November to 1st December. The event is sponsored by Diesel and will be held at the Hotel Indigo Los Angeles Downtown, at 899 Francisco St, 90017. This year, the festival coincides with CLAW’s Leather Thanksgiving celebration, offering a diverse range of activities under one roof.
Celebrating four decades of promoting and preserving the legacy of the renowned Finnish artist Touko Valio Laaksonen, better known as Tom of Finland, the Foundation is focused on advocating for the creative freedoms of LGBTQ+ artists around the world. Edward Cella, the CEO of the Foundation, emphasized their commitment to this cause.
The festival, acclaimed as the world’s largest erotic art fair, will present the work of over 30 artists, galleries, and vendors, providing a platform to buy, sell, and explore art, design objects, books, and other unique items. The venue, Hotel Indigo, offers a socially conducive setting designed to foster interaction and commerce, expanding the experience for attendees.
The festival schedule features an array of events, including the opening day’s presentation, Ropedweb at 25: A Retrospective, by ty dehner, a Rope Bondage Demo titled Knot Your Daddy, and tributes to LGBTQ+ organizations. German artist Rinaldo Hopf will introduce his Sunset Boulevard mural, inspired by his time in Los Angeles. Additionally, attendees can enjoy captivating presentations from various artists and authors, including a reading from William E. Jones’ I Didn’t See It Coming.
On Saturday, highlights include a Life Drawing Session led by Miguel Angel Reyes, a preview of the documentary House of Leather followed by a discussion panel, and an interactive Flogging Demo by Dave Watt. The day will also feature an erotic Shibari performance from former Foundation Artist-in-Residence, Oat Montien.
The festival’s final day will feature Scene Dynamics: Some Nuts and Bolts to Chew and Screw by Guy Baldwin, a fundraising brunch hosted by TOM’s Legacy Council featuring Tom of Finland Organic Vodka, and a discussion with Dian Hanson on the longstanding influence of Tom of Finland. The festival will recognise winners from the Tom of Finland Emerging Artist Competition and other honorees, including Artist Hall of Fame-winner Holly Johnson and Dedication Award-winner Jim Neuman. The event will conclude with a keynote address by Paul Mpagi Sepuya and a performance by Linda Simpson titled The Drag Explosion.
Richard Villani, the Foundation’s Creative Director and the Festival Lead, expressed excitement at returning to a new venue for the festival’s 40th anniversary and commented on the ongoing evolution of the festival experience.
The festival will feature various exhibitors, including established names like David Kordansky Gallery and emerging artists such as Nicholas Fadely and Pietro Spirito. CLAW President Bob Miller highlighted the synergy between the Foundation and CLAW, enhancing the diversity and richness of the event for attendees.
To commemorate the milestone, the Foundation is releasing an exclusive limited edition fine art print, with only 40 pieces available for purchase at the festival.
Attendees are offered a special room rate at the Hotel Indigo via the CLAW LA Leather Getaway website, providing convenient accommodation options for those participating in both events.
More information about the festival and ticketing details can be found at the Tom of Finland Foundation’s website.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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- https://www.voguescandinavia.com/articles/diesel-tom-of-finland-foundation-pride-2024 – Mentions the collaboration between Diesel and the Tom of Finland Foundation for Pride 2024, including global events and a capsule collection, to mark the foundation’s 40th anniversary.
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- https://thepalmspringspost.com/tom-of-finland-foundation-celebrating-40th-anniversary-with-multiple-palm-springs-events/ – Corroborates the festival’s focus on showcasing the work of various artists, galleries, and vendors, and the commitment to creative freedoms of LGBTQ+ artists.
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- https://gaydesertguide.com/tom-of-finland-foundation-celebrating-40th-anniversary-with-multiple-palm-springs-events/ – Details the synergy between the Tom of Finland Foundation and other organizations like CLAW, enhancing the diversity and richness of the events.
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- https://www.voguescandinavia.com/articles/diesel-tom-of-finland-foundation-pride-2024 – Supports the release of exclusive limited edition fine art prints and other commemorative items for the 40th anniversary.
