Tim Okamura’s provocative urban portraits arise from a life-long fascination with the emotionally expressive power of the human face, combined with intense interest in the juxtaposition of humanity and an urban environment. He is concerned with accurately recording the physiognomy of individuals, yet is also in tune to discovering metaphors that express the greater human condition.

Okamura has had several solo exhibitions in New York City and throughout Canada. His paintings have been included in many prominent group exhibitions, including “After Matisse/Picasso” at MoMA P.S.1 in Queens, N.Y. and “The Gentrification of Brooklyn: The Pink Elephant Speaks” at The Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts in Brooklyn, NY. Additionally, Okamura’s work has been selected nine times to appear in the prestigious BP Portrait Awards Exhibition at London’s National Portrait Gallery.

This spring Tim Okamura held a solo position at the VOLTA art fair in New York City. He was featured in The Wall Street Journal and sold a painting to The Davis Museum at Wellesley College in Massachusetts for their permanent collection. Okamura is currently working on a collaborative painting with award winning, American singer/songwriter, and artist John Mellencamp.

Tim Okamura has an upcoming solo exhibition at Lyons Wier Gallery in New York City in September 2011. He will also exhibit new work at PULSE during Art Basel Miami in December 2011.

Contact: timokamuraart@gmail.com

Work Shirt by Tim Okamura, oil, mixed media on canvas, 76 inches x 56 inches, 2011