— Finland Unveils Erotic Stamps: Finland has unveiled a new set of designs to be released on postage stamps later this year featuring the artwork of Touko Laaksonen, known as “Tom of Finland,” three of which include the artist's signature homoerotic illustrations of leather-clad, mustachioed men. Finland’s postal service said the iconic figure's selected illustrations capture the “confident and proud homoeroticism” in his work. “The sheet portrays a sensual life force and being proud of oneself,” said Timo Berry, the graphic designer who helped select the work. “There is never too much of that in this northern country.” [theverge]
— Nic Cage Art Show is a Blockbuster: A one-day Nicolas Cage-themed fan art show, “Nicolas Cage Is God,” opened to lines around the block this Saturday in San Francisco’s Mission District, an unanticipated blockbuster turnout. Organized by Ezra Croft, who sourced work from all over the world, the show featured people wearing eyeless Cage masks, “Raising Arizona” costumes, and Cage-faced nipple pasties. “I’ve been to art openings for Damien Hirst that didn’t evince this level of excitement,” said John Metcalfe in his report for Atlantic Cities. [Atlantic Cities]
— Tate About to Open Landmark Matisse Show: The Tate Modern’s “Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs” show, opening Thursday, has garnered a lot of attention for bringing the artist's late works together for the first time in a generation. "This kind of show just doesn't happen more than once in a lifetime," Tate director and show co-curator Nicholas Serota said. "This is the largest show of this body of works and contains most of the major works." [The Guardian]
— Sotheby’s Board Fight Update: In preparation for the upcoming Sotheby’s board fight, Daniel Loeb has released an investor presentation that calls for the removal of board members Robert A. Taubman and Jessica M. Bibliowicz and opposes nominee Danny Meyer. [AMM]
— Falckenberg on “The Art World We Deserve”:“Art in today’s society has risen to become a new dominant culture, anchored like sport and showbiz in the system of international companies and the mass media,” says collector and art theory professor Harald Falckenberg, ruminating on the state of the art world. [FT]
— L.A. After $7.5M in Arts Funding: A legal snag has entangled $7.5 million in funds for cultural events in L.A. for years and now city officials are attempting to remove the red tape. [LAT]
— Photographer Mario Testino has been named President of the Board of the World Monuments Fund in his native Peru. WMF Peru is the organization's first office in South America. [Art Daily]
— Thieves broke into the Briars historic homestead, south of Melbourne, and stole historic artifacts including a lock of Napoleon Bonaparte’s hair. [BBC]
— In celebration of its 75th anniversary, the Hyde Park Art Center has announced expansion projects for a new wing that will include artist studio space. [DNAinfo]
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