Biography
Born in Edmonton, Canada, Tim Okamura began his artistic journey at the Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary, where he earned his B.F.A. with Distinction. He further honed his skills at the School of Visual Arts in New York, graduating with an M.F.A. in Illustration as Visual Journalism in 1993 and continued his studies at New York Academy of Art.
Okamura is currently based in New York, becoming an internationally acclaimed artist celebrated for his unique style combining traditional oil painting techniques with collage, mixed media, and elements of abstraction. His work embraces portraiture as a form of storytelling, with a contemporary perspective focused on themes of identity, representation, interpersonal relationships, and community.
Tim Okamura's painting career has garnered numerous prestigious awards and recognition. He received the Fellowship in Painting from the New York Foundation for the Arts in 2004 and was selected nine times for the esteemed BP Portrait Award Exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in London, England.
In 2015 Okamura received an invitation to The White House where he received a letter of commendation from then Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden, in honor of his work addressing issues of social justice and criminal justice reform.
Tim Okamura’s artistry has been on display around the globe, engaging audiences throughout North America, Europe and Asia, as well as being exhibited in numerous museums such as The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, The Brooklyn Museum, and August Wilson African American Cultural Center.
Okamura’s work is included in numerous prestigious private collections as well as the permanent collections of The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, The New York Historical Society Museum, The Davis Museum at Wellesley College, The Alberta Foundation for the Arts, The Toronto Congress Center, and Standard Chartered Bank in London, England.
