Now What? 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

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