David Salle (born September 28, 1952, in Norman, Oklahoma; last name pronounced "Sally") is an American Postmodern painter, printmaker, photographer, and stage designer. He grew up in Wichita, Kansas, and studied at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), where he earned a BFA in 1973 and an MFA in 1975, training under the influential Conceptual artist John Baldessari.

Salle emerged in New York City in the early 1980s as a leading figure of the Pictures Generation, a group of artists who explored the role of images in mass media. He is renowned for his large-scale, multi-layered paintings that combine popular culture, art history, and personal photography—such as images from 1950s advertising, film noir, cartoons, and works by Caravaggio or Velázquez—into enigmatic, often provocative compositions. His work defies coherent narrative, instead creating a "kaleidoscopic effect" that reflects the overwhelming influence of media culture.

A prolific writer, Salle has contributed essays to Artforum, The Paris Review, The New York Review of Books, and other publications. His 2016 collection, How to See: Looking, Talking, and Thinking About Art, reflects his belief in demystifying art criticism and making it accessible. He has also directed films, designed sets and costumes for choreographer Karole Armitage, and collaborated with computer scientists in 2023 to develop an AI program trained on his artistic style.

Salle lives and works in East Hampton, New York, and his work is held in major public collections including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Tate Modern, and the Guggenheim Museum.