“Powerful” is one of the words that come to mind when looking at Tim Okamura’s work. Born in Canada and based in Brooklyn, the contemporary artist paints portraits of predominantly African-American women. They are represented in poses where their presence is imposing, reflecting their strength and presence. With their heads held high, their eyes frank, they take their place in elaborate decors comprising a composition of different elements, sometimes natural with butterflies and plants, sometimes urban in front of a wall decorated with tags, for example. Her approach explores man’s relationship with identity. To do so, he uses a “unique method of paintings – one that combines an essentially academic approach to the figure with collage, spray paint and mixed media“.
