7 Most Expensive Paintings by Salman Toor

Within contemporary art, Salman Toor is a name navigating the intersection of tradition and modernity, culture and queerness.

Born in Lahore, Pakistan, in 1983, Toor’s artistic odyssey has traversed continents, finding its current pulse in the vibrant heartbeat of New York City.

A journey that began with childhood sketches of imaginary friends has evolved into a masterful oeuvre that captures his life as a queer man in a bustling urban world.

Toor’s artistic roots trace back to Ohio Wesleyan University, where he earned his BFA, and the Pratt Institute, where he honed his craft with an MFA.

His canvas, influenced by the echoes of Old Master and Surrealist works, breathes life into intimate figurative paintings that mirror the freedoms and vulnerabilities of his cosmopolitan community.

Drawing inspiration from Dutch Golden Age painting, Toor’s work showcases a unique blend of realist depictions and astute social commentary.

By doing so, he transports viewers into a world where elongated and exposed bodies are entwined in interior spaces, using shades of green to evoke glamour and invitation.

With such an intimate backdrop of his paintings, Salman Toor has emerged as one of the most popular Pakistani painters ever.

Achieving such a status means his works are highly sought after.

We look at his most expensive paintings and the reasons why they are so loved by the artistic landscape. 

Four Friends – £942,084

In Toor’s evocative portrayal, queer male figures emerge as icons within South Asian gay communities, navigating a space that resonates with both joy and fear.

These images now stand celebrated alongside revolutionary moments like Black Lives Matter, sharing the spotlight with the vibrant canvases of Yayoi Kusama and the haunting faces of Yoshitomo Nara.

Lucius Elliott, Head of The Now Evening Auction at Sotheby’s in New York, considers Toor’s creation a pinnacle of his practice.

According to Elliot, Four Friends plays a pivotal role in diversifying the artistic market.

Like his finest work, it captures an intimate moment in the lives of young queer men in New York.

In perfect harmony with the “queer intelligentsia”, Toor’s artistic vision boldly rejects Muslim stereotypes, embracing instead “Queer Rococo” – a fusion of Old Master techniques and contemporary camp.

This artistic blend defies conventions and creates a visual narrative that resonates with authenticity, making Toor a trailblazer within contemporary art.

Girl and Boy with Driver – £698,819

In the captivating portrayal of Girl and Boy with Driver, we are invited into an intimate scene unfolding within the confines of a parked sedan.

Through the window, a man with olive skin closes his eyes, lost in a moment, seemingly oblivious to the enchanting woman beside him.

Her face radiates with an unseen glow, a coy smile playing on her lips as she holds a wine glass aloft in her left hand.

Positioned near the centre of the canvas, these figures immediately seize our attention.

Towards the front of the car, a third character sits at the wheel, a bearded man in blue and white, steadfastly facing the windshield, perhaps aware of the antics transpiring in the back seat.

Patiently awaiting the signal for departure, he remains dutiful.

Toor’s artistic process, devoid of direct sources in front of him, stems from memories, people, and moods.

As he paints, his subjects materialise from the individuals he envisions, akin to his own experiences.

Around the car, lush shrubs and trees cast subtle shadows on the muted hues of the automobile.

The backdrop reveals a cloudy, green-brown sky, seamlessly blending the swirling sfumato technique of yesteryear with the contemporary scene, creating a dreamlike reverie that instantly captivates.

4 Guests – £672,750

Drenched in the contemplative hues that define Toor’s body of work, 4 Guests is an extraordinary showcase of the artist’s nuanced portrayal of figures in introspection.

This canvas, painted a year before his acclaimed breakthrough exhibition “How Will I Know”, zeroes in on figures conjured from Toor’s imagination.

Toor has transitioned into a chronicler of the queer community and the everyday lives of those he knows.

Against a brushy green backdrop, Toor paints four figures in his signature stylised realism – three standing and one seated.

The men on the left cast their eyes downward, heads bowed, while on the right, the standing figure rests his hands on the seated man.

Toor’s characters, with subtly elongated features and simple lines accentuating folds and wrinkles, capture his use of fashion to convey mood and drive a suggested narrative.

In his artistic journey, Toor’s early admiration for Renaissance and baroque masters like Caravaggio and Rubens significantly influenced his approach to modelling with rich colour and dramatic light.

His work now embodies a style distinctly his own.

However, Toor continues to weave classical references into his pieces while updating traditional subject matter.

Merging Western artistic styles with his native Pakistani influences, Toor employs a visual language that empowers perceived outsiders.

Rooftop Ghost Party I – £645,426

In Rooftop Party with Ghosts 1 (2015), men and women engage in leisurely mingling.

Toor’s figures, rendered in various stages of completion, pulsate in and out of reality – some deeply engaged within the scene, others breaking the fourth wall to make a connection with the viewer.

Amid this lively spectacle, a sojourner stands alone, surveying the unfamiliar urban festival with a blank thought bubble hovering, waiting to be filled. 

As a painter deeply rooted in art history yet firmly placed in today’s divisive cultural landscape, Toor envisions unified bodies emerging from the darkness, bursting with light.

These ‘ghosts’, as Toor describes them, echo origins, cultural baggage, and serve as catalysts for disrupting and reinventing static ideas of self and belonging.

This work extends an invitation to participate, reaching out with an elegant hand to guide the viewer out of the gathering of strangers and spectres into a harmonised future.

The Servant – £539,818

A pivotal triumph in Salman Toor’s journey, this remarkable piece pays a sophisticated homage to artistic legacies while delving into the stark divide between affluence and poverty.

The Servant stands as a captivating example from Toor’s tantalising series exploring the dynamics between servant and master, a collection he completed in 2013.

The protagonist of The Servant carries the weight of the composition, a tray of delectable wines in hand.

Silver highlights and delicate glazes of rose hues showcase Toor’s painterly skill, evoking the illusion of crystal so realistic one could almost partake in the attendant’s offering.

Toor’s attention extends to the lavish gradations of blue, peach, and softened amber fabrics.

In a Bacchanalian celebration, men and women embrace tenderly, laugh freely, and succumb to the thrilling stupors of wine. 

The Servant is not merely a visual feast; it embodies Toor’s exploration of the European tradition and his South Asian roots.

A harmonious dance between East and West, rich and poor, those who drink and those who serve. 

The Singers – £480,928

In the exquisite piece titled The Singers, crafted in 2019, Toor captures a moment of human connection – simple yet pulsating with life and profound soulfulness.

A sumptuous, earthy colour palette harmonises with the crisp blue sky, set against the elegance of pinks, oranges, and greens.

Perched intimately on a brick wall, two figures serenade from a vantage point near the treetops, embraced by the swirling blue sky.

Below them, amidst delicate pink roses, a trio leans against the same wall, linked yet distinct from the melodic scene.

Their nonchalant poses – a casually sipped drink, a hand resting on a hip – exude unapologetic humanity.

Rooted in Lahore, Pakistan, Toor reflects:

“When I paint, there are no models in front of me… I conjure specific memories, people, or moods.

“My subjects are a composition of individuals who resonate with my own experiences.”

The Singers beckons viewers to ponder crucial questions.

Who are these figures, and where do they exist? Why have they been absent from the artistic canon until now?

It prompts a necessary exploration of representation and challenges the status quo with profound curiosity.

Liberty Porcelain – £392,595

Crafted in 2012, Liberty Porcelain stands as a breathtaking showcase of Salman Toor’s imaginative aesthetic.

In Liberty Porcelain, four characters of varied dimensions come to life against the backdrop of a colonial building reminiscent of the iconic Frere Hall – a prominent architectural symbol in Pakistan.

Toor injects a playful spirit into his characters’ attire, with two figures in the left corner adorned in traditional Pakistani celebratory garments.

The older man donned in a green turban and a vibrant orange robe, shares an intimate embrace with a younger companion, hands wrapped around his neck.

Beside them, a woman graces the scene in a stunning red Chitrali coiffe hat with luscious feathers.

The fourth character, commanding attention, echoes the iconic little boy from Eugene Delacroix’s 1830 masterpiece, Liberty Leading the People.

Liberty Porcelain serves as a testament to the realm of Toor’s universe.

Stylistic variations, such as the cartoon-like shoes at the artwork’s centre, infuse the piece with mystery, intrigue, and a refreshing quality.

Salman Toor’s artistic alchemy weaves together the threads of memory, imagination, and a profound cultural awareness.

There’s no wonder why his masterpieces sell for such big prices. 

Some other honourable mentions include The Star, where camaraderie blossoms, and the unsettling scenes of Car Boys, depicting the harsh realities faced by his community.

In Toor’s art, each stroke is a brush dipped in the hues of belonging, intimacy, and the vivid spectrum of the human experience.