On the occasion of WorldPride 2026, Tom of Finland Foundation and RoB Gallery present the exhibition ICONS OF DESIRE at Galerie de Schans in Amsterdam.
The exhibition revives a historic collaboration. From the 1970s through the early 1980s, RoB Gallery for Male Erotic Art (Amsterdam & New York), founded by Robert Meijer, served as the worldwide distributor of the work of Tom of Finland. From Amsterdam, RoB played a crucial role in establishing Male-Erotic Art internationally as a legitimate art form at a time when Queer eroticism was still widely censored and marginalized.
Tom of Finland Foundation & RoB Gallery
Tom of Finland
Finnish artist Tom of Finland (born Touko Laaksonen, 1920-1991) transformed Queer erotic art through his iconic depictions of confident, hypermasculine men. His work challenged shame and censorship, becoming a lasting symbol of queer freedom and desire.
RoB Gallery
Robert Meijer was a Dutch leather designer, gallerist, and cultural pioneer who helped bring male erotic art into public view through RoB Amsterdam and the RoB Gallery. His work shaped Amsterdam into an international center for queer fetish culture and artistic visibility.
Galerie de Schans
Galerie De Schans has become a platform for emerging artists, performances, and experimental cultural projects in Amsterdam.
Based in the Warmoesstraat, the space has fostered an alternative, community-driven environment where art is embedded in everyday social life rather than institutional or commercial settings.
Opening hours
Official opening: July 24
18:00 - 22:00
July 25 - August 15
Open daily: 12:00 -19:00