Born in Lahore, Pakistan, Salman Toor moved to the United States to pursue his formal art education, eventually settling in New York City. He earned his BFA from Ohio Wesleyan University and his MFA from Pratt Institute, establishing a practice that bridges his South Asian heritage with his experiences as a queer immigrant in the West.

Toor’s work is characterized by a distinctive, fluid painting style that often utilizes an emerald-green palette to create dreamlike, atmospheric interiors. His canvases frequently center on themes of vulnerability, social belonging, and the intersection of private and public life, elevating the mundane experiences of his subjects into poignant, narrative-driven scenes.

His work continues to gain international institutional recognition, with his paintings being selected for major group exhibitions exploring contemporary identity and masculinity. His inclusion in the 2026 Stedelijk Museum exhibition Beyond the Manosphere highlights his ongoing relevance in global dialogues regarding the representation of gender and the body in contemporary painting.