Salman Toor Brings Evocative Depictions of Queer South Asian Life to London’s Courtauld Gallery

Born in Lahore and currently based in New York, acclaimed artist Salman Toor has carved out a distinct and vital space in contemporary art through his evocative and deeply personal depictions of queer life. His fictional yet intensely resonant scenes are firmly rooted in his own lived experiences, placing young, queer South Asian men at the center of narratives that capture them in the fluctuating throes of love, intimacy, alienation, and modern urban survival. Toor’s distinctive visual language, characterized by emerald-toned palettes, expressive brushwork, and a cinematic approach to light and shadow, has earned him international recognition and a dedicated following across the global art world.

This coming October, London audiences will have a major opportunity to experience the full scope of his vision when 19 of Toor’s works come together for a special exhibition titled Salman Toor: Someone Like You at the Courtauld Gallery. Opening in the autumn, the exhibition promises to immerse visitors in the atmospheric, often tender worlds that Toor constructs on canvas. Through this carefully curated selection of works, viewers are transported to dimly lit bars, intimate bedrooms, quiet museum galleries, and crowded dance floors. In these spaces, Toor’s paintings explore the multi-layered complexities of friendship, desire, and community among marginalized individuals navigating metropolitan environments.

Beyond the warmth and vulnerability found within private gatherings and social spaces, Toor’s work does not shy away from confronting harsher realities. Elsewhere in the exhibition, the artist tackles more uneasy encounters, casting a critical and empathetic eye toward the bureaucratic and emotional hurdles of borders, displacement, and immigration. These jarring transitions between the comforts of chosen community and the hostile architecture of global movement form a central pillar of Toor’s artistic investigation, highlighting the precariousness experienced by queer individuals of color as they navigate different geographic and cultural landscapes.

The upcoming exhibition at the Courtauld Gallery will feature several key pieces that trace the evolution of Toor’s signature style over recent years. Among the highlights included in the 19-painting lineup are Bar Boy (2019) and Man with Face Creams and Phone Plug (2019), both of which exemplify his knack for capturing the quiet, mundane, yet intensely psychological moments of contemporary urban existence. These works are complemented by the monumental Ghost Ball (2023), which stands as one of Toor’s largest and most ambitious paintings to date. Interestingly, Ghost Ball draws direct inspiration from an 18th-century Indian work titled Dancing Villagers, bridging historical artistic traditions with the contemporary realities of queer diaspora and nightlife.

In addition to the central showcase of paintings, Salman Toor: Someone Like You will feature a separate, dedicated display that brings together a selection of the artist’s remarkable works on paper. This component of the exhibition offers visitors a more intimate glimpse into Toor’s creative process, showcasing the immediacy of his drawing and sketching techniques. Among the pieces featured in this companion display is Fag Puddle in Vitrine (2021), a striking work on paper that was recently acquired by the Courtauld Gallery in 2024, further cementing the institution’s commitment to engaging with contemporary narratives and diverse artistic voices.

Salman Toor: Someone Like You is scheduled to be on display at the Courtauld Gallery from October 2, 2026, to January 10, 2027. Ahead of the public opening, cultural enthusiasts and fans of the artist will have specialized access opportunities. Members of the Dazed Club can purchase tickets for the exhibition at a discounted rate, available exclusively through the Dazed Club app.