Texas Chillin Lithograph by Thomas Blackshear

Thomas Blackshear Art Gallery

Gallery updated on Tuesday, June 9, 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

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