Beryl Cook / Tom of Finland Boijmans Van Beuningen

This bold catalogue brings together the work of two cultural icons for the very first time: Beryl Cook (1926–2008) and Tom of Finland (1920–1991). Inspired by the 2024 exhibition Beryl Cook / Tom of Finland at Studio Voltaire in London, the book places their practices in dialogue, inviting new readings of sexuality, gender, taste and class. Cook’s exuberant painting captures everyday social life and the social milieu of Plymouth, with larger‑than‑life women and scenes of nightlife rendered in graphic, colourful form. Tom of Finland’s depictions of bikers, soldiers, cowboys, sailors and laborers celebrate queer, leather and muscle communities, using a masterful draughtsman’s hand to imagine a universe that helped fuel liberation movements and influence figures across culture.

The companion catalogue spans five decades of paintings, drawings and archival materials, and includes an incisive new essay by Huw Lemmey exploring queer contexts within Tom’s work and resonances in Cook’s depictions of gay bars and shapely women. The publication aims to contribute to fresh readings of the artists’ practices and their enduring impact on popular culture.

Joe Scotland (Édité par), Nicola Wright (Édité par), Callum Whitley (Édité par)

Kenmerken

• Compagnoncatalogus van Cook en Tom of Finland
• Vangt vijf decennia aan werk en archieven
• Essay over queer context door Huw Lemmey
• Bevat schilderijen, tekeningen en archiefmateriaal
• Bewerkt door Scotland, Wright en Whitley; uitgegeven door Paul Holberton