Culture PickFounded in 1984, Tom of Finland has been protecting and promoting queer erotic art and helping to push the boundaries of modern gay culture with its provocative hyper-masculine imagery. Its hub, Tom’s House, reopens this weekend with a new art exhibition and there’s also a party the following day at the Avalon.

Read LA Weekly’s cover story about Tom of Finland here. 

Saturday, Tom’s Foundation and Mike Ruiz offer “Teams Up + Gears Up” with photography by Ruiz featuring images from his on-going leather community portrait series. Sunday, Tom’s Bar celebrates “Daddy’s Day” with a bigger and badder than ever bash at Avalon and Bardot honoring Orville Peck, who’ll be in attendance and be presented with the Tom of Finland Foundation 2022 Cultural Icon Award. Expect “Tom’s Men” dancing to a special performance by Mareux, plus artwork displays by The Mr. She, Rick Castro, Suzanne Shifflett, Travis Cicchetto, and Patrick Pantoliano. Ruiz will also be there with a photobooth shooting leather looks for his upcoming book. The theme for 2022 is “Tom Unites,”a post-pandemic reunion after the isolation of the past two years. Joining the 29th annual fundraising fete: DILF, Lights Down Low, Lethal Amounts, Mike Ruiz, Vaseline Alley, Tom of Finland Store with Terry Miller and End Overdose.

Teams Up + Gears Up exhibit, Tom’s House, 1421 Laveta Terrace; Saturday, June 18, 4-8 p.m. Tom’s Bar, The Avalon & Bardot Hollywood, 1735 Vine St.; Sunday, June 19, 2-10 p.m. More info at tomoffinland.org/tomsbar

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