Nizar Makan, a retired dermatologist and skin surgeon at 74, calls both the United States and Canada home. Born in Zanzibar, he completed his education journey in Tanzania, spanning college, medical school, and postgraduate specialty, with fellowship training in the United States.

With an illustrious nearly 40-year career in dermatology and cutaneous surgery, Nizar embraced retirement during the Covid-19 pandemic. The lockdown period became a transformative phase as he discovered his latent passion for painting, initially sparked by a pre-covid course with Lori Goldberg at the Emily Carr College of Art and Design in Vancouver, British Columbia. Amid the pandemic, Nizar submitted a painting titled Cosmic Communication to the 2023 Regional Illume Arts and Sports Festival in Vancouver, earning recognition that propelled the piece to national level in Toronto for adjudication in November.

Beyond his newfound love for painting, Nizar indulges in other diverse hobbies, such as playing the piano and engaging in astrophotography. His journey, transitioning from a distinguished medical career to a blossoming artistic pursuit, serves as a testament to the richness and variety that define the tapestry of his multifaceted life.