The Seven Seas

About The Seven Seas

This oil painting is a contemporary portrait of a young black woman.

Tim Okamura has been painting visually stunning oil portraits of women for several decades that have attracted an international following.
His unique visual language often combines the traditional realism of the old masters with the raw emotion of graffiti art. As a Japanese Canadian artist with biracial parents, Okamura grew up with a world view that embraced a diverse group of friends. He considers capturing the intimate stories of his subjects-people who are often underrepresented or misrepresented as a ‘calling’.
The haunting image of this beautiful young black woman staring into the distance is juxtaposed with a dynamic graphic backdrop in rich hues of blues and greens. Okamura’s liberal use of impasto where he applies paint in thick, expressive layers transforms the painting into a sculptural object that adds visible texture, depth and emotion. Calligraphic markings, paint drippings with flashes of red, and swatches of fabric also underscores the contemporary approach. The title itself, The Seven Seas is a reference to a historical idiom used to describe all the navigated seas of the world.

“Something about portraiture can translate a little bit of your story without having to spell it out. The biggest challenge is capturing and honoring the individual—their beauty for who they are as that unique and distinct person. And also understanding that the overall body of work is going to stand for a broader idea and a bigger picture.” Tim Okamura

“Okamura’s practice is profoundly meditated upon, and it tests how far his materials can be pushed to embody the subjectivity, humanity, and vulnerability of Black women and women of colour in his community. Okamura wants the world to see the beauty, mutual aid, and culture that are the bedrocks of his reality.” Jessica Lanay, Arts journalist, Writer, Poet

Tim Okamura was born in Edmonton, Alberta. He studied at the Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary, where he earned his B.F.A. with Distinction. He continued his artistic studies at the School of Visual Arts in New York, graduating with an M.F.A. in Illustration as Visual Journalism in 1993 and took additional classes at the New York Academy of Art. Tim Okamura's painting career has attracted international attention and garnered him numerous awards. His artwork has graced the cover of Time magazine and has appeared in several motion pictures. In 2004, he was awarded the Fellowship in Painting from the New York Foundation for the Arts. He was also selected nine times for the esteemed BP Portrait Award Exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in London, England. In 2015, Okamura 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. He has exhibited throughout North America, Europe and Asia, in numerous museums such as The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, The Brooklyn Museum, and August Wilson African American Cultural Center. Tim Okamura’s work can be found in both prestigious private collections and publicly in 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. Tim Okamura lives in New York City.