Ten’s To See: Beryl Cook / Tom Of Finland At Studio Voltaire

Walk into Clapham’s Studio Voltaire and a curated display of perky, peach-like rears and bulbous pectorals are there to greet you, firting and fizzing with a raw cheekiness. It’s not often you get to see exhibitions that are so deliciously brash, but with a pairing like Beryl Cook and Tom of Finland, it’s hardly a surprising theme. Running now until August 25, the South London gallery’s latest foray is a flesh-heavy ode to two of Britain’s most beloved artists (even if it didn’t start that way). Supported by Cook’s family and the Tom of Finland Foundation, whose co-founder’s own chiselled portrait sits pretty on the walls, the exhibition is curated with love that is felt around the room.

from left: Beryl Cook; Tom of Finland

Although it’s not the likeliest of pairings, the closer you look the more it makes sense. Tom of Finland, who became known for his bulge-heavy depictions of bikers, cowboys and soldiers, was a pioneer for queer-centric art. Cook, who operated at a similar time, celebrated women of all shapes and sizes, infusing her portraits with joy and exuberance. She was also known for depicting pubs and clubs frequented by the gay community in her homestead of Plymouth. With both artists creating hyper-realised versions of the human body, as well as placing a firm emphasis on the beauty in pleasure and the irrelevance of shame, the work displayed is a reminder of the impact of artistic endeavours, especially those of the homoerotic kind, on real-world liberation. Both outsiders from the art world’s stuffy establishments, their time-honoured careers proved critics wrong with Cook becoming the recipient of an OBE in 1995 and Tom of Finland’s work being revered not just by his native state but around the world too. 

A warming and fearless display that champions this inspiring pair of artistic legacies, it’s in your best interest to head over to Studio Voltaire stat. Discover the exhibition here.

Photography courtesy of Studio Voltaire.

@studiovoltairelondon / @beryl_cook_official / @tomoffinlandfoundation