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