Set Against a Backdrop of World Events, Tim Okamura’s Bold Portraits Emanate Commanding Energy
“Hearth Fighter” (2021), oil on canvas, 60 x 76 inches
Marked with seen brushstrokes and drips of paints, the portraits of Tim Okamura (beforehand) mix real looking portrayals of his topics with the fervent, unrestrained qualities of road artwork. The Japanese-Canadian artist, who not too long ago moved his studio from Brooklyn to Queens, facilities his apply round storytelling and honing in on the distinctive energies of these he paints.
A lot of Okamura’s portraiture develops in sequence, whether or not because the Healthcare Heroes assortment dedicated to the nurses and medical doctors working tirelessly all through the pandemic or the commanding figures of the continued Girls Warriors—many of those works will likely be on view as a solo exhibition in September of 2023 at Pittsburgh’s August Wilson African American Cultural Center. Rendered primarily in oil with the occasional acrylic or spray paint addition, the items seize the uncooked nature of Okamura’s course of and the distinctive, highly effective presence of his topics.
For those who’re in Los Angeles, go to the Academy Museum to view the artist’s portrait of the late author Toni Morrison. In any other case, discover extra of his work on his site and Instagram, and browse limited-edition prints in his shop.
Toni Morrison circa 1993
“Nurse Tracy” (2021), oil on linen, 40 x 60 inches
“Blood, Sweat, and Tears (Portrait of the Artist Marc Andre)” (2022), oil on linen, 32 x 26 inches
“Rites of Spring” (2021), oil on canvas, 64 x 64 inches
“Wealthy Medina” (2022), oil on wooden panel, 24 x 24 inches
“Luminescence” (2022), oil and acrylic on canvas, 60 x 60 inches
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