European art lovers, head on over to Venice or Paris to catch a groundbreaking exhibit of the pioneering work of over 80 queer artists from the 1940s to today, put on by Tom of Finland Foundation and Diesel. According to one of the hosting galleries, The Community Centre:
On the occasion of Tom of Finland’s birthday (8 May 1920), Tom of Finland Foundation and The Community have curated AllTogether, a group exhibition supported by Diesel, presenting Tom of Finland Foundation’s permanent collection to the public for the first time outside of Los Angeles.
AllTogether explores the erotic art collection consisting of thousands of artworks, spanning multiple decades and encompassing all media and techniques. This exhibition is possible because of the Foundation’s efforts in preserving the work of queer artists, many of whom have faced discrimination and misrepresentation due to the nature of what they create.
The Community goes on to contextualize the importance of this exhibit in bringing these works of erotic art to a new audience:
For over thirty years, Tom of Finland Foundation has been building the world’s most extensive collection of LGBTQ+ art. Durk Dehner and Tom of Finland cofounded Tom of Finland Foundation in 1984 with the aim to better preserve and promote Tom’s work. However, quickly the Foundation’s role extended to promoting and archiving the works of other queer artists: the early years of Foundation coincided with the onset of the AIDS epidemic. Many erotic artists of the time, some working anonymously throughout their career, were concerned that their work would be forgotten or destroyed after their deaths. Thus, they donated their life’s work to Foundation, knowing it would be carefully archived and their stories preserved. AllTogether acknowledges the profound social and cultural impact Tom’s Foundation has made, in providing an open, unique space of freedom and love for this community of artists.
See The Community Center for a full list of participating artists. Both the Venice and Paris exhibits run through 26 June.
Durk Dehner, co-founder of the Tom of Finland Foundation, shared with 10 Magazine his thoughts on the role of erotic art in contemporary society:
It has always been our mission for work that is erotic in nature to be seen as “contemporary art” as it has with Tom of Finland. Collectors should engage with the artist and seek out their stories – all of this is what they are bringing into their lives. One is reminded every time we are face-to-face with an artwork that we are creatures that are sexual. It’s not just about having sex, it is part of our humanity and something we can be positive about.