Villani Studios
Richard Villani
Creative Visionary | Art & Photo Director Curator | Producer
Villani Studios
Supporting past & present erotic artists + archives with curation, strategy & project development
Tino DeMartino
Soho House Head of Wellness North America
"Working with Richard and the Tom of Finland Foundation is a dream. Richard and the team come with an abundance of creative ideas and the willingness to collaborate with intention. Look forward to creating more magic in the near future"!
Martin Magonet
Head of Business Development
-The Skateroom
" It was a real pleasure working with Richard and visiting the Tom of Finland Foundation. His open-mindedness, professionalism, and clear artistic vision made the entire process smooth and inspiring. Richard’s ability to align creative goals and facilitate meaningful connections was key to the success of our collaboration. We’re grateful for the experience and look forward to seeing what he builds next.
"
Dr. Pay
Matthis Karstens Partner Galerie Judin
Pure excellence! It was a treat for Galerie Judin to be working with Richard Villani on many occasions over some five years - as for his inspiring, out of the box ideas, his perfect and in-depth organization and preparation, and a network that reached far beyond our needs and expectations. We'll gladly continue this fruitful exchange and collaboration while expanding the gallery’s outreach internationally.
Joe Scotland
Director Studio Voltaire
"I worked closely with Richie and the Tom of Finland Foundation on the Beryl Cook / Tom of Finland exhibition at Studio Voltaire. Richie was integral to the project, contributing to its development, delivery and reception. I deeply valued Richie's collaborative approach, which brought great insight, kindness, and generosity to the project".
Jess Cuevas
Art Director
"Working with Richie on the Tom of Finland 40th Anniversary was an
amazing opportunity for me. It was a project I will never forget.
Richie brings out the best in artists. He gave me a lot of trust and
was inspiring as a creative force".
Slava Mogutin
Artist
Working with Richard Villani at Tom of Finland Foundation was a true
pleasure. As a producer and true champion of queer art, Richard
brought a rare mix of passion, precision, and deep respect for the
artists and the Foundation’s legacy. His dedication to fostering queer
creativity and visibility was evident in every project we collaborated
on: from exhibitions and festivals to community events in LA, NY,
Berlin, London and beyond. As a judge for the Emerging Artist
Competition, I witnessed firsthand Richard’s commitment to creating
inclusive, dynamic platforms for new voices. His support, enthusiasm,
and attention to detail helped make each experience not only seamless,
but also genuinely enjoyable and inspiring. I am grateful for our time
working together and I continue to admire his vision and
professionalism.
Franko B.
Artist
I have had the opportunity to work with Richard a few times now. Richard has alway been professional and super aware of my needs and concerns as an artist. It has been an honour for me to have this working relationship, as well as friendship and respect from such a
person.
Dita Von Teese
Richie has that rare, almost unnamable quality that sets truly great
Creative Directors apart. There is a magic in how he brings a vision
to life - not by dictating it, but by nurturing and elevating the
artists around him. Working with him on TOM's Bar events has been such
a valuable experience. Whether it is a live event, exhibition, or
brand storytelling, I would recommend him to anyone looking for
someone with a vision that has both bold imagination and exquisite
execution.
Diesel
Japan Co., Ltd.
Takamichi Mimuro
Director, DIESEL ART GALLERY
It was a real pleasure collaborating with you on FORTY YEARS OF PRIDE at DIESEL ART GALLERY (Tokyo) in 2024, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Tom of Finland Foundation.
Your professionalism, creativity, and passion for the Tom of Finland Foundation’s mission left a strong impression and made the project truly memorable.
Michael Reynolds
US Director Wallpaper Magazine and Editor at Large Architectural Digest
Just shy of four decades ago, Richard and I cut our editorial teeth together as assistants at VOGUE, during a period now considered the "Golden Age" of magazines. Richard’s loyalty and dedication at VOGUE and the tomes he would champion soon thereafter - Interview, Vanity Fair and Los Angeles Magazine - would lay the ground work for the impressive mantle he now holds in the worlds of Art and Culture as a documentary film maker, book editor, photo producer and notably as the Creative Director of the Tom of Finland Foundation. Richard’s ability to intuitively direct and transform what he embraces creatively is accompanied by tremendous vision, passion, humility and authenticity. He is a Prince among men, a total Mensch and to consider him an industry comrade in arms is an absolute honor.
Fabian JEAN VILLANUEVA
Avant Arte Artists & Partnerships Lead
"Working with Richard was a rewarding experience both personally and professionally. He opened the doors to new networks and wonderful opportunities with the Tom of Finland Foundation. I have wonderful memories of our joint speech at Berghain during the ToF Festival. I look forward to developing other projects with him in the near future".
Jaakko Nousiainen
DA, Director
The Finnish Institute in Japan
It is always a genuine pleasure to work with Richard. He brings a calm, thoughtful presence and fosters an atmosphere of mutual respect and shared purpose. Richard approaches everything with quiet determination and integrity. His high standards and unwavering commitment to delivering quality consistently shine through.
Tom Bianchi
Photographer & Artist
"Richard is a pleasure to work with. He brings a genuine enthusiasm to his work - which is providing a context and meaning to an artist's work. He is inventive in his effort to promote the messages of the art he embraces. I feel my work is in good hands with him. He has the will and ability to extend the reach of my own vision.”
Łukasz Leja
Artist
"I met Richie after winning the Tom of Finland Foundation’s Emerging Artist Competition. Over the next three years, we traveled from LA to New York, London, and Berlin, sharing queer erotic art with thousands of people. Richie has a rare gift for bringing incredible people together. He consistently created space for emerging artists like me, making us feel seen, valued, and celebrated. Through him, I met my heroes and stepped into spaces alive with queerness, art, fashion, and joy."
Artist Łukasz Leja
Benjamin Pöntinen
CEO The Community
"Richie is a wonderful collaborator: caring, intuitive, and a true pleasure to work with. He brings both strategic understanding and sharp tactical thinking to every project, making even complex situations feel manageable. His generosity, professionalism, and deep awareness of culture-at-large make him a trusted and valued partner. I always look forward to collaborating with Richie".
Rina Ceitlin
Head of Membership and Communications SoHo House Berlin
" I had the pleasure of working with Richard on a Tom of Finland event in collaboration with Soho House. From the very beginning, we connected effortlessly and shared a clear, aligned vision for the project.
Richard is incredibly organised, proactive, and creative. He consistently brought fresh, thoughtful ideas to the table and was always approachable and solution-oriented. His ability to communicate clearly and follow through on details made the collaboration seamless and enjoyable.
I truly appreciated his professionalism and collaborative spirit, and I would be thrilled to work with him again in the future".
Sarah Effenberger Effenberger Couture
"Collaborating with Richard at the Tom of Finland Foundation was a pleasure. He brings full heart, dedication, and a solution-focused mindset to every project. Richard ensured the artists’ work was respected, contextually placed, and aligned perfectly with our product. A truly supportive and thoughtful partner".
Elena Piccinni and the Diesel team
"Richard is an exceptional partner to work with. His professionalism, dedication, and collaborative spirit truly stand out. He consistently brings a positive attitude and a proactive approach, making every project smooth and enjoyable. His ability to build strong relationships and his commitment to excellence are invaluable assets. Working with him is always a rewarding experience".
Dian Hanson Taschen
“Richard Villani brought polish and brilliance to the diamond that is Tom of Finland Foundation”
X Princess Julia
Villani knows his stuff. It was an absolute pleasure working with him at ToFF as he guided me through a selection of artists for the Emerging Artists Competition with insight & care.
Billy Norwich
Editor, Writer, Novelist
I have known Richard Villani since he was starting out his career in the arts and in media world, back at Condé Nast in the early 1990s when he worked in the photography and production departments at Vogue and Vanity Fair. Hardworking, informed, sensitive to colleagues needs and idiosyncrasies, he was an instant star and one of the most reliable members of any team. Since then he’s gone on to do more great work, including expanding internationally the importance and appreciation of the Tom of Finland oeuvre. Thanks to Richard’s wit and wisdom, and his transparency in business dealings and fundraising, new generations—young people starting out their careers as well museum and gallery dealers and private collectors—have learned so much more about the bravery and originality of the ToF works both in their historical context and in a scholarly and curatorial context. The role of Tom of Finland in the history of figurative art, fashion, music, sexuality and gender; eroticism; these are always urgent topics and especially relevant in today’s political climate if we are to protect and defend the freedom of artists to create work that is freely expressed and uncensored. Richard creates systems and means to do that, he is the real deal. And one of the hardest working most passionate professional people I know
