Haitian model, singer, and author Tico Armand posed for this inspirational depiction of a strong Black woman as a modern "Rosie the Riveter" icon of the "We Can Do It!" female empowerment poster from WWII. She is flexing her right arm, displaying strength and determination. Her left hand rolls up the right sleeve, emphasizing her muscular bicep. Her sinewy and "battle-scarred" skin is rendered in warm, rich browns and tans with highlights that capture the light beautifully. Okamura uses subtle variations to define the planes of her face and body. She's wearing a check-patterned denim shirt, and her head is adorned by a vibrant, bold red headwrap with a complex pattern of geometric designs. The background is abstract and expressionistic, composed of swirling brushstrokes in shades of dark blue, green, and hints of brown. It gives a sense of depth and movement, without defining a specific setting. The lower portion of the background drips white and beige paint, creating a sense of raw, unfinished energy. Contemporary Canadian painter Tim Okamura is a Brooklyn-based artist renowned for his powerful portraits of women, particularly Black women. Through these portraits, he explores themes of identity, urban environments, and contemporary iconography. Okamura, originally from Canada, created a distinctive painting style. It combines traditional academic figure painting with elements of collage, spray paint, and mixed media. His work often features a single female figure in a commanding pose -- like Rosie -- with urban motifs. Okamura’s decision to focus on underrepresented subjects comes from a desire to learn about communities different from his own. He wants to connect with these communities. He also aims to challenge his own preconceived notions about identity.

Rosie No. 4" by Tim Okamura (Canadian) - Oil on canvas / 2018 - Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History (Chapel Hill, North Carolina) #womeninart #art #oilpainting #TimOkamura #Okamura #womensart #womanpower #rosietheriveter #StoneCenter #portraitofawoman #strongwoman #BlackWoman

A woman with strong arms and powerful hands stands front of wall mural with spray painted grayish symbols and colorful snakes. Centered above her in darkened clouds is an open hand as if Hinon (god of thunder and lightning) is waiting to strike. Her distinctive style includes a dark brown tank top and combination of adornments, silver rings, silver band bracelets, leather bracelet, turquoise and gold block necklace, plus a patterned beige headband keeping her long dark hair away from her face. Her expression is contemplative focused away from the artist. Tim Okamura’s colourful, expressive figures radiate from their canvases, connecting with viewers as if through chance meetings with fascinating strangers on the street or at a party. Born in Edmonton, Okamura graduated from the Alberta College of Art and Design, earned his MFA at New York City’s School of Visual Arts, and trained at the New York Academy of Art.

The Wife of Hinon by Tim Okamura (Canadian) - Oil, spray paint, and paint marker / 2007 - Alberta Foundation for the Arts (Canada) #womeninart #timokamura #painting #art #contemporaryart #artwork #alberta #okamura #canadianart #womensart #artoftheday #bskyart

A woman with her long black hair combed out into a large afro stands facing the artist with a fierce confident face while grasping a sheathed Japanese katana sword with a silver butterfly atop the handle. She wears samurai-inspired clothing with a dark patterned top and colorful white, white, and red full-length robe. On both edges of the painting are two columns of Japanese text over the dark background. Okamura combines traditional oil painting techniques with mixed media and elements of abstraction filtered through a contemporary urban perspective. His work focuses on themes of identity, resilience, representation, and community.

Samurai Princess by Tim Okamura (Canadian) Oil and mixed media on canvas / 2016 - August Wilson African American Cultural Center (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) #womeninart #painting #art #timokamura #artwork #canadianartist #fineart #oilpainting #bskyart #artoftheday #okamura #bsky.art #afro #samurai

Canadian artist #TimOkamura (b1968) paints minority subjects in urban settings & for mixing graffiti & realism.

Canadian artist #TimOkamura (b1968) is known for painting minority subjects in urban settings & for mixing graffiti & realism. #contemporaryart #urieldana #uridev