I have to say, after doing a thorough internet dive, I was overwhelmed by the vast amount of work Adam J Kurtz created, including easily recognized objects from pop culture. Between exhibitions, works, books, products, collaborations and even large public talks, Adam is prolific. I am always inspired by creatives who not only have panache, but also the work ethic and skill to execute their vision, especially on the scale Adam has. His affable feature in the New Yorker (A STORY IN INSPIRATIONAL PAINTED ROCKS), was a revelation! Such fun, and glaringly relevant amidst the chaos that is currently consuming...

Marjukka Vuorisalo is an artist and educator who hails from the same country as our beloved Tom…  Finland! Her CV is overwhelming, with a long list of international exhibitions, numerous publications, and an ever growing list of teaching positions. She has a bachelors, masters, and doctoral degree from the University of Design in Helsinki, with an emphasis on Textile Art and Design, though she dabbles in several other mediums. Tom mastered the pencil drawing and Marjukka the yarn knit. With her extensive education on the subject, Marjukka has gone on to share her love of knitting with the world— I...

Stephen McDermott is an artist with an affinity for the nude male figure, bright colors, and eye-catching design. The perfect combination to dive head first into the queer pin-making business, and honestly, he hopped on the wave at just the right time! With many successful collections under his belt, and an impressive list of press shout outs (DNA Magazine, NYT, and Intomore) a Tom of Finland collab was inevitable. The new pin is a sexy, you guessed it —  NUDE Tom of Finland inspired hunk, boots and Muir cap included. I had the opportunity to chat with Stephen, about his...

It’s hard to say when exactly I first met Rick Castro, because ever since I ventured into TOM House (in 2015) he’s been omnipresent. Whether serving tea (literal and figurative) in the Salon on Wednesdays, fostering political conversation on the porch, or curating a show in the dungeon, Rick’s been around. He’s a long term friend of Durk Dehner and the Foundation; a community leader and spiritual guru. Besides creating evocative fetish art that pushes boundaries and explores complex themes of hedonism and bondage, he’s a real sweetie. With an impressive oeuvre of art, film, and published content, Rick is...

I met Stuart Sandford in 2016, at the book release for TOM House, published by Rizzoli. New to Los Angeles and in search of a friend to explore the town with, Stuart and I quickly became inseparable. Later that summer, I would move in as the artist-in-residence at ToFF, where Stuart became a sounding board for my artistic exploration. Stuart has his ‘finger’ fixed on the pulse of the queer art scene in LA, and I am forever grateful that he brought me into the fold. Born in the UK, Stuart has traveled the world creating and exhibiting his artwork,...

Skim Milk was conceived after its founder Josh Scholl was underwhelmed by the mediocrity of design around him. Originally named DesignerDrugs, the brand first launched t-shirts in 2009, which challenged the status quo, “brining you the most thought provoking designs that blur the lines of innovation and sarcasm.” Each design is one of a kind, and meant to challenge normalcy— though the founder is not queer, he identifies with the sensibility of being different. In 2013 the brand expanded with a spin off, WHOLE, creating more than just t-shirts, using luxury fabrics and recruiting an impressive list of collaborators. The...

If you don’t know already, a quick google search of Matthew Camp will tell you that he’s got half a million followers on Instagram, he’s go-go danced and club promoted for the likes of Susanne Bartsch, and he starred in an indie film GETTING GO, based on his life. A dive into his his social media and you understand what it means to be an object of desire— many describe Matthew as ‘country boy’ with a side of danger. If you’ve ever seen one of his films (or his OnlyFans) you know how disarmingly charming Matthew can be. It’s no...

New York based, Russian artist, activist, and journalist, Slava Mogutin has been passionately dedicated to the radical documentation and protection of queer lives since adolescence. It was at the age of 14 that the Siberian born artist left his family and moved to Moscow to work as a reporter and editor for the first independent Russian newspapers, publishers, and radio stations, where he was hailed as one of the foremost voices of the post-Perestroika new journalism and the only openly gay personality in the Russian media. In his writings, Mogutin openly condemned the local homophobia, making him the target of...

Since 2007,  Daniel Trese has photographed the city of Los Angeles, documenting its coming of age art scene, unique urban landscape, iconic fashion personalities, and current queer culture. Trese recently released a book titled Surface Streets, which has been adapted as an online exhibition at Tom of Finland Store. Almost entirely shot on film, Surface Streets is a poetic tribute to a decentralized city that has recently attracted a new breed of creatives excited by LA’s cultural future and up-for-grabs identity.

At first glance, one might mistake Ondi Timoner for an actress. When we met, her blonde lion’s mane was piled on top of her head and her eyes were hidden by enormous designer shades. In reality, she is the mastermind behind numerous documentaries as a director, writer, camera operator, and producer among other things (I wouldn’t be surprised if she acts too!)  The charismatic filmmaker is the real deal. Over the last two decades, she has collaborated on numerous documentary films and television. Ondi is a rare two-time winner of Sundance Grand Jury Prize for DIG! and WE LIVE IN...

Slick It Up is a fetish brand that transcends fetish boundaries. Peruse their products online and you are affronted by a nontraditional wash of vibrant colors and gear that caters to a wide variety of audiences. Besides their wide spectrum of colors, there is a spectrum of masculine and feminine presenting garments. When my femme identifying friend first stumbled upon the website, he threw his dainty hands in the air and proclaimed, “Where have you been?! SLICK ME UP!” I got a chance to talk to the creator about the brand and their missions is centered around positivity and inclusion....

I met Sharp in 2016 via my residence at Tom of Finland Foundation. Sharp is the Vice President of the Foundation and a permanent resident/fixture at TOM House. He is the kindest, most lovely gentleman, and though it seems that he is perpetually smoking cigarettes on the front porch, he actually fills his days dedicating himself to the Foundation and Tom’s legacy. He’s got a heart seven sizes bigger than your average enthusiast and serves as the jovial liaison between artist and the machine that is TOM House. To watch Sharp give a tour of the property is like watching...