WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – A special interactive event will showcase the iconic artwork of Tom of Finland from 7-10 p.m. Nov. 12. Hosted by pleasure products manufacturer XR Brands and retailer The Pleasure Chest in cooperation with the Tom of Finland Foundation, the event will pay tribute to the erotic artist and the sexy toy line that bears his name.
The evening will begin with complimentary beer, wine and appetizers presented by models dressed in tribute to Tom of Finland’s iconic leathermen, followed by an interactive discussion about the artist and his work led by the foundation’s Durk Dehner and S.R. Sharp. The pair also will describe the intricate process of bringing Tom of Finland’s historic erotic imagery to life in the form of Tom of Finland Pleasure Tools, a product line crafted by the XR Brands design team.
All attendees are encouraged to wander the intimate displays and get up close and personal in the Tom of Finland Spanking Booth, where photography is encouraged.
“With a recent exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the release of a Finnish stamp bearing his illustrations and a feature-length biopic slated for release, Tuoko Laaksonen — better known as Tom of Finland — is internationally recognized as a historically relevant artist and important gay icon,” XR Brands Director of Marketing Rebecca Weinberg said. “It was only natural to host a special showcase of Tom of Finland Pleasure Tools with the Tom of Finland Foundation by our side.”
The Tom of Finland Foundation serves as a living archive that fosters erotic arts around the world.
From design to packaging, every element of the Tom of Finland Pleasure Tools line was made to reflect the artist’s aesthetic while giving fans tangible pieces of erotic art. Like Tom of Finland’s illustrations, the products and their artful packaging are playful and cheeky while maintaining the artist’s hyper-masculine and artistic look with packaging, sales tools and merchandising displays.
Most notable from the line is a hand-sculpted rendition of Kake’s Cock, one of the biggest penises that Tom of Finland ever penciled, available as a collector’s piece that fans can enjoy as an interactive piece of erotic art. The famous shape has been transformed into a physical object of pleasure and is packaged with a copy of the famous Tom of Finland illustration from which it was sculpted.
Other accessories in the Tom of Finland Pleasure Tools collection include branded dog tags and locks, which fans can wear out or display on their gym bags, making the product line a celebration of community as well as an opportunity for pleasure.
The event will take place Nov. 12 from 7-10 p.m. at the Pleasure Chest, located at 7733 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood, Calif.
