Born in Lahore and based in New York, artist Salman Toor is known for his evocative depictions of queer life. His fictional scenes are rooted in his own experiences, centring young, queer South Asian men in the throes of love, intimacy and alienation.

This October, 19 of Toor’s works come together for Salman Toor: Someone Like You at the Courtauld Gallery. Here, we’re taken to dimly lit bars, bedrooms, museums and crowded dance floors, where the works explore the complexities of friendship, desire and community. Elsewhere, Toor confronts more uneasy encounters with borders and immigration.

The works include Bar Boy (2019), Man with Face Creams and Phone Plug (2019), and the monumental Ghost Ball (2023), one of Toor’s largest paintings, inspired by the 18th-century Indian work Dancing Villagers. Alongside the 19 paintings, a separate display brings together Toor’s works on paper, including Fag Puddle in Vitrine (2021), which was acquired by the Courtauld in 2024.

Salman Toor: Someone Like You is on display at the Courtauld Gallery from October 2, 2026 to January 10, 2027. Dazed Club members can purchase tickets at a discounted rate exclusively through the Dazed Club app here