At a glance
Salman Toor brings his signature emerald-green nocturnes to London, reimagining classical spaces with intimate, cinematic scenes of modern queer life and South Asian identity.
Why go
This is a rare opportunity to see Toor’s fluid, atmospheric paintings placed in direct conversation with the specific 19th-century masterpieces that have long informed his distinctive figurative style.
You'll see
Emerald-toned oil paintings · New pen-and-ink drawings · Site-specific gallery interventions · Scenes of queer domesticity · Stylistic nods to Rococo and Impressionism
Pace of visit
The show spans both the temporary exhibition galleries and the permanent collection rooms, requiring a wandering pace to locate specific interventions.
Don't miss
The interventions within the permanent galleries, where Toor’s new works are hung alongside masterpieces by artists like Manet and Degas.
Artlovers Tip
Visit in the late afternoon when the gallery light begins to fade; the atmosphere perfectly complements the moody, nocturnal glow of Toor’s emerald-toned canvases.
Inside the exhibition
Meet the artist
Description
Salman Toor: Someone Like You at The Courtauld Gallery in London, UK, marks the first significant solo exhibition for the Pakistani-born, New York-based artist in a British public institution. The presentation centers on Toor's ability to weave the aesthetics of the Old Masters into contemporary narratives of queer intimacy and the migrant experience. Visitors will find a selection of new paintings and drawings that blend the artist's personal history with a deep knowledge of European art traditions.
The exhibition features Toor’s recognizable palette of nocturnal greens and his loose, expressive brushwork across two main formats. While the dedicated galleries host a cohesive body of new work, the exhibition also spills into the museum’s historic rooms. These site-specific interventions place Toor’s figures—often young men in moments of leisure or vulnerability—beside the Baroque, Rococo, and Impressionist works that serve as his primary stylistic touchstones.
By situating Toor’s work within a venue renowned for its collection of 19th-century French painting, the exhibition highlights a deliberate tension between the art historical canon and those who have been excluded from it. Seeing his contemporary subjects occupy the same physical and conceptual space as the painters he admires offers a fresh perspective on the enduring influence of the Courtauld’s own masterpieces.
Worth travelling for?
A sophisticated, evocative show for visitors interested in how contemporary figurative painting can gracefully dismantle and rebuild the traditions of Western art history.
Experience as an Artlover
Entry is included with a general admission ticket to The Courtauld Gallery, which is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00. Advance booking is recommended due to the limited capacity of the historic gallery rooms.
Salman Toor: Someone Like You
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