The impact of Tom of Finland's work extends far beyond the art world, speaking to fundamental human desires for expression, connection, and acceptance. As we move forward, his art and character will undoubtedly continue to inspire new generations, cementing his place as one of the most important and enduring artists of the 20th century.
Released in 2017, the biographical film chronicles the life of Touko Valio Laaksonen, the Finnish artist whose groundbreaking homoerotic drawings shaped modern gay culture and redefined the male figure in art. Directed by acclaimed Finnish filmmaker Dome Karukoski, the film delves into the private life of the man behind the legendary pseudonym, capturing his struggle against societal oppression in post-war Helsinki and his ultimate rise to international artistic fame. The Man Behind the Art: Touko Laaksonen
Despite the often-clandestine nature of his early work, Tom of Finland's art gained international recognition in the 1950s and 1960s, as his drawings and paintings were smuggled into countries around the world, where they were cherished by gay men seeking validation and community. The artist's work also caught the attention of influential figures such as Andy Warhol, who invited Tom of Finland to contribute to his legendary avant-garde magazine, Interview .
Pekka Strang as Touko Laaksonen, Lauri Tilkanen as Veli, and Jessica Grabowsky as Kaija. Biography / Drama. Release Date: tom of finland -2017-
From underground erotic art to museum collections, Tom’s journey reflects changing social attitudes. Institutions and scholars began re-evaluating erotic and queer art as worthy of academic and curatorial attention, and Tom’s drawings were re-contextualized not merely as pornography but as culturally and artistically significant artifacts that document queer history, desire, and identity formation.
Karukoski
One notable dual exhibition in Berlin, a joint presentation by , ran from late January to mid-April. Titled “Touko Laaksonen: The Man Behind Tom of Finland,” the show used personal letters, photographs, and late works to chart his transformation from a commercial artist into a globally recognized brand, focusing on his life and artistic development. The impact of Tom of Finland's work extends
The widespread recognition of 2017 culminated in a critical look at Laaksonen's artistic process. The exhibition opened, showcasing a collection of photographs taken by Tom of Finland himself, which he used as direct inspiration for his drawings. This provided concrete evidence of how the artist synthesized reality into his powerful and stylized fantasies. Furthermore, the year saw Tom of Finland’s inclusion as a key figure in Finland’s 100th birthday celebrations, solidifying his long-overdue status as a national hero.
The film spans over four decades, following Laaksonen (played by Pekka Strang) from his service in World War II to his eventual fame in the United States. Tom of Finland (2017) - Swampflix
In reality, Touko is a man who fears for his safety, glancing over his shoulder in dark alleys. On paper, his men are fearless. They are hyper-masculine, muscular, mustachioed giants clad in leather and denim. They are unapologetic. The film argues that Tom of Finland’s art was not just pornography; it was a corrective measure against a world that wanted to shame queer men into invisibility. By drawing men who were the apex of masculinity—soldiers, bikemen, lumberjacks—Touko reclaimed the very symbols of power that had been used to oppress him. Directed by acclaimed Finnish filmmaker Dome Karukoski, the
If the MOCA exhibition was the intellectual proof of Tom’s arrival, the theatrical release of the Finnish biopic Tom of Finland (directed by Dome Karukoski) in 2017 was the emotional proof.
Complementing the film's release, 2017 saw a variety of museum and gallery shows that provided deeper, more scholarly looks at Laaksonen's work and life. These exhibitions moved beyond the provocative imagery to explore the person behind the pseudonym.
The film introduces us to Touko Laaksonen (Pekka Strang), a man who moves through the post-WWII landscape like a ghost. He is an advertising executive, a lieutenant, a respectable citizen. But he is carrying a secret that is not just illicit, but dangerous. In this era, homosexuality was not merely a taboo; it was a crime, a sickness, a deviance. The opening act of the film is draped in shadows, both literal and metaphororical. We see Touko cruising in parks where the threat of violence—or police entrapment—hangs heavy in the cold air.