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Forty-one former artists-in-residence have sent an open letter to the Tom of Finland Foundation board, raising concerns about transparency, staff layoffs and the reported end of its residency program. The letter reflects a dispute between former residents and the foundation’s leadership; the foundation’s response and the program’s status were not established in the report.
Forty-one former artist residents of the Tom of Finland Foundation have sent an open letter to its board, saying a reported halt to the residency program, staff layoffs and a lack of communication have put the nonprofit’s support for queer artists in question. The letter asks the board to preserve the foundation’s work with new generations of artists as well as its stewardship of Tom of Finland’s art.
The former residents’ letter describes what they call “the lack of transparency and abrupt interruption” of several programs under the current administration. They say the Artist-in-Residence program was discontinued without advance notice and that nearly the entire staff of the House was laid off in June. These are claims made by the letter’s signatories; the source report does not provide a statement from the foundation confirming the changes.
The letter calls on the board to maintain the foundation’s mission through residencies, mentorship, support, exhibitions and research, alongside access to its archive. Carta Monir, a 2022 resident who coordinated the letter, told Hyperallergic that the board was “refusing to answer any questions.” The report did not include a response from the board.
The dispute reaches beyond one program. Former residents argue that the foundation’s future work should include active support for queer and erotic artists, not only the preservation of Tom of Finland’s legacy. Their appeal comes amid an acrimonious rift between the board and its co-founder, which the report says has left the nonprofit’s future uncertain.
The Residency’s Role in Queer Art
The reported dispute concerns whether an organization known for preserving a major body of queer art will also continue to provide space and support for working artists. For former residents, the residency and related activities are part of the foundation’s mission, connecting Tom of Finland’s legacy to contemporary queer and erotic art. If the program has ended, its loss could affect artists seeking access to mentorship, exhibitions and the foundation’s archive.
The letter also puts governance and communication at issue. The residents are asking the board to explain changes that they say were made without warning. The source material does not establish the board’s reasons, the financial circumstances behind the reported cuts, or whether any programs might return. The distinction matters: the letter documents the signatories’ concerns, not a complete account of the foundation’s decisions.
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From Tom’s Archive to Artist Residencies
The nonprofit was established in 1984 to preserve the art and legacy of Tom of Finland, the name used by Finnish artist Touko Laaksonen, who lived from 1920 to 1991. His erotic drawings of hypermasculine men, including sailors, lumberjacks and bikers, became widely recognized images in queer culture.
Over time, the foundation expanded its activities beyond preservation. It supported contemporary artists through exhibitions and acquisitions, then launched its Artist-in-Residence program in 2011. The residency was based at the foundation’s headquarters, an Echo Park Craftsman home known as TOM House. The former residents’ appeal frames the current disagreement as a question of whether that broader role will continue.
““the lack of transparency and abrupt interruption of several programs by the current administration””
— The 41 former artist residents, in their open letter to the foundation’s board
The Board’s Account Is Missing
The source report does not include a response from the foundation’s board, leaving the reasons for the reported changes and the board’s plans unclear. It also does not independently verify whether the residency has formally ended, whether other programs were interrupted, or how many staff members were laid off. The letter’s claim that nearly the entire House staff lost their jobs is attributed to the former residents.
The report identifies an acrimonious rift involving the board and a co-founder but gives no detailed account of the disagreement. It is also unclear whether the foundation has contacted the signatories, set a timeline for responding, or intends to restart the residency. The year of the September 28 letter and the June layoffs is not specified in the supplied report.
A Response From the Foundation
The immediate next development is whether the foundation’s board responds to the former residents’ letter and clarifies the status of the Artist-in-Residence program, staffing and other activities. The signatories are pressing for continued support through residencies, mentorship, exhibitions, research and archive access, but the report does not describe a formal board meeting or response deadline.
Until the foundation provides more information, the program’s status and the organization’s plans remain unresolved. A board statement or further communication with former residents could clarify what has changed, why the changes were made and whether the foundation intends to maintain its work with contemporary artists.
Key Questions
What did the former residents ask the foundation to do?
They urged the board to preserve the foundation’s mission, including continued residencies, mentorship, artist support, exhibitions, research and archive access.
Has the foundation confirmed that its residency program ended?
The former residents say the program was discontinued without warning. The supplied report does not include a statement from the foundation confirming its status.
What staff changes were reported?
The letter’s signatories said nearly the entire staff of TOM House was laid off in June. The report does not provide an independent staffing count or the foundation’s account of the layoffs.
Who is Carta Monir?
Monir was a 2022 Artist-in-Residence and coordinated the open letter. Monir told Hyperallergic that the board was “refusing to answer any questions.”
Has the board responded to the letter?
No board response is included in the supplied report. The board’s explanation for the reported changes and its plans for the residency remain unclear.
Source: rss
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