Tim Okamura Honours COVID-19 Heroes After Surviving the Illness

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Tim Okamura with a painting he is working on from his Health Care Heroes series, inspired by his appreciation of health care workers fighting COVID-19. (courtesy Tim Okamura)

Tim Okamura, a New York-based artist who grew up near Edmonton, is paying tribute to American nurses and doctors in his recent paintings after surviving COVID-19.

"I have been deeply affected by the pandemic on many levels, and wanted to show my appreciation for the heroic work of the doctors and nurses," Okamura told CBC News.

The paintings, which will help raise funds for a cause selected by medical professionals, show health-care workers on the job in their scrubs.

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Tim Okamura, "Toni Morrison" for Time magazine.

Okamura got sick in March as the virus swept through New York City. Although he was never tested, he had the telltale symptoms — chills, body aches, headaches, fatigue, brain fog and the loss of his sense of smell. He was ill for more than two months and still has some lingering effects.

Okamura, known for his paintings of Black Americans, painted a portrait of American writer Toni Morrison for Time magazine's 100 Women of the Year project. He is represented by the Peter Robertson Gallery in Edmonton, said the portrait was purchased by American film director Spike Lee. 

Source: CBC News, Peter Robertson Gallery