Salman Toor honoured by TIME100 Art 2026 for shaping future of art

Pakistani-American artist earns his second recognition as his work on intimacy and isolation draws global attention

Pakistani-American artist Salman Toor has been named to TIME’s TIME100 Art 2026 list, marking the second time the artist has been recognised by the magazine.

TIME100 Art 2026 was announced on Friday afternoon, with Toor featured among the 100 most influential people shaping the future of art.

The 42-year-old artist was named alongside internationally recognised painters, photographers, artists, museum leaders and philanthropists, bringing together some of the most prominent figures working across the global art world.

Toor was recognised for his work exploring intimacy and isolation, with TIME highlighting the way his paintings depict young brown men experiencing moments of connection and solitude.

In its profile of the artist, TIME described his work as portraying young brown men “in states of convergence and of isolation.” “Sometimes, the men are dancing at a bar, bathed in emerald light; other times, they are alone, lying in bed,” it wrote.

The latest recognition adds to Toor’s growing international profile and follows several notable milestones in his career.

In 2020, TIME reported that Toor’s paintings had sold for more than $1 million at auction, highlighting the growing interest in his work in the international art market.

Since then, he has continued to expand his presence through exhibitions and major international art events. Toor toured a solo exhibition to four museums, bringing his work to audiences in different parts of the world, and also participated in the Venice Biennale, one of the art world’s major international events.

The artist has also held a two-part gallery exhibition that sold out, adding to a series of milestones that have marked his career in recent years.

Another major moment is on the horizon, with Toor’s first solo European exhibition set to open at the Courtauld Gallery in London in October.

His inclusion in TIME100 Art 2026 is also not his first appearance on a TIME list. Toor was previously featured on the magazine’s TIME100 Next list in 2021, making his latest recognition another appearance on one of TIME’s influential annual lists.