I visited in 2019 as a freelance journalist for the Helsinki Sanomat in Los Angeles, at the most iconic art museum, where I have ever been, the home of artist Touko Laaksonen in Los Angeles – TOM House.
The house is a monument to the Finnish artist’s museum and a boundary-breaking, human rights-oriented organization that has been operating since the 1980s, the foundation of which has been supported by Tom of Finland’s work.
Durk Dehner and Touko Laaksonen founded the Los Angeles-based non-profit in 1984. The foundation represents, maintains, and protects Tom of Finland artwork, collects, protects, and archives the world’s most important art, organizes art competitions, and maintains an attractive art residency. The foundation has worked to promote equality and a more understanding attitude towards different sexualities.
That’s all for now.
Durk Dehner left the foundation for personal reasons in 2025. The current foundation board have now ended its funding and the monumental home museum, TOM House, which has been actively maintaining the art life for decades.
The situation feels absurd and sad. If TOM House closes its operations, the internationally renowned Finnish artist’s historical museum and the exceptional, equality-defying founding institution will also cease to exist.
Save TOM House!