James Cagney by Thomas Blackshear

Thomas Blackshear Art Gallery

Gallery updated on Sunday, June 21, 2026

Authorized Dealer Limited Editions Numbered Series
Thomas Blackshear portrait

THOMAS BLACKSHEAR II, the son of an Air Force captain, was born in Waco, Texas, and grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. "Drawing was all I ever liked to do," he says. "While all the other guys were playing baseball or basketball, I was in my house, drawing." He pursued an interest in art throughout high school, securing a scholarship to the Art Institute of Chicago. After a year there, he transferred to the nearby Academy of Art. While finishing his college education, he was recruited by Hallmark Cards and later became the apprentice of illustrator Mark English. <br><BR>
Blackshear settled in Kansas City, where he became head illustrator at the prestigious Godbold/Richter Studio. A year later, he began a prosperous freelance career, illustrating many advertisements, several U.S. Postal Service stamp collections - one called "Black Heritage," another on classic movies, and a third on jazz musicians - and several series of Hamilton Group collector s plates featuring scenes from Star Wars, Star Trek, and The Wizard of Oz. Although he was successful, he was dissatisfied and decided to pursue a career in fine art.<br><BR>


Blackshear has received many awards for his artwork, including the Society of Illustrators coveted Gold Medal. He was profiled on The Living Canvas, an art magazine of the airwaves that was shown on public television, and he has been featured on the Ebony/Jet Showcase and The 700 Club, and in The Saturday Evening Post. An exhibit of his original works for the Black Heritage stamp series premiered in 1992 at the Smithsonian s National Museum of American History and subsequently toured the United States.<br><BR>


Browse and enjoy the great African American Art work from one of Today's most collected African American Artists, Thomas Blackshear..

Thomas Blackshear Current Portfolio

James Cagney Ready For Battle Star Trek Picard - The Next Generation Star Trek Mr. Spock 25th Anniversary Plate Next Generation Crew - Counselor Troi 1988 Wizard Of Oz CATCHING A BLESSING GIRL HAND SIGNED ARTIST PROOF Watchers In The Night (canvas Edition) With Forgiven Witness Cards Black Heritage Jean Baptiste Set Forgiven Texas Chillin Lithograph Star Trek Riker - The Next Generation Angel At Rest Artist Proof Hand Signed By Thomas Blackshear 1988 Wizard Of Oz Dorothy Meets The Scarecrow Little Pilot Adorable Boy Hand Signed Artist Proof Little Pilot Adorable Girl Hand Signed Artist Proof Dinky Toot Innocent Wonders Star Wars Series - R2d2 And Wicket 1988 Wizard Of Oz If I Were King Of The Forest Star Trek Collector Plate 25th Anniversary Waggletag Swan Song Liberty Poster Print Star Trek Scotty 25th Anniversary Plate Liberty Framed Print - Limited Edition Beauty And The Beast Star Trek Hikaru Sulu 25th Anniversary Plate Next Generation Crew - Lt. Worf The Vessel Pinkie Poo Innocent Wonders Artist Signed Intimacy Anniversary Edition Number 2 Catching A Blessing Artist Proof (set of 2) Golden Breeze Framed Anniversary Edition Intimacy (serigraph) Unframed Original Release Artist Proof Next Generation Crew - Geordi Laforge Wizard Of Oz - A Glimpse Of The Munchkins Star Wars Series - Luke And Darth Vader 1988 Wizard Of Oz We're Off To See The Wizard Little Pilot Adorable Boy And Girl Artist Proof Hand Signed By Thomas Blackshear Super Bowl XXXVII Commemorative Poster Angel At Rest Next Generation Crew - Data CATCHING A BLESSING BOY HAND SIGNED ARTIST PROOF Star Trek Lt. Uhura 25th Anniversary Plate Awakening Now What? Lithograph Preparing to Sound the Alarm Lithograph Night In Day - Unframed Print Artist Proof Rustic Decorative Stand Zip Doodle Innocent Wonders Beauty And The Beast Liberty Print Only - Limited Edition The Sound Of Victory 1988 Wizard Of Oz The Great And Powerful Oz Intimacy (serigraph) Original Release Beauty And The Beast - Unframed Print Golden Breeze Anniversary Edition Next Generation Crew - Dr. Crusher The Watcher Beauty And The Beast Indian Paint Brush Du Sable-Commemorative Pane TWINKY WINK CLOWN For You Classic Movie Monsters Magnificent Mare Star Trek Captain Kirk 25th Anniversary Plate Star Trek Dr. Mccoy 25th Anniversary Plate