Texas Chillin Lithograph by Thomas Blackshear

Thomas Blackshear Art Gallery

Gallery updated on Wednesday, June 10, 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 CATCHING A BLESSING GIRL HAND SIGNED ARTIST PROOF Next Generation Crew - Lt. Worf Classic Movie Monsters Forgiven Star Trek Riker - The Next Generation Star Trek Collector Plate 25th Anniversary Star Trek Mr. Spock 25th Anniversary Plate The Sound Of Victory Liberty Framed Print - Limited Edition Star Trek Picard - The Next Generation Next Generation Crew - Geordi Laforge Black Heritage Jean Baptiste Set Next Generation Crew - Counselor Troi Pinkie Poo Innocent Wonders Artist Signed Indian Paint Brush Next Generation Crew - Data Now What? Lithograph 1988 Wizard Of Oz The Great And Powerful Oz Liberty Print Only - Limited Edition Star Trek Scotty 25th Anniversary Plate James Cagney Next Generation Crew - Dr. Crusher Star Wars Series - R2d2 And Wicket Intimacy Anniversary Edition Number 2 Beauty And The Beast Dinky Toot Innocent Wonders Little Pilot Adorable Boy Hand Signed Artist Proof Star Trek Hikaru Sulu 25th Anniversary Plate Wizard Of Oz - A Glimpse Of The Munchkins CATCHING A BLESSING BOY HAND SIGNED ARTIST PROOF 1988 Wizard Of Oz We're Off To See The Wizard Super Bowl XXXVII Commemorative Poster Angel At Rest Artist Proof Hand Signed By Thomas Blackshear Swan Song Catching A Blessing Artist Proof (set of 2) Waggletag Preparing to Sound the Alarm Lithograph Golden Breeze Anniversary Edition Magnificent Mare 1988 Wizard Of Oz Dorothy Meets The Scarecrow Beauty And The Beast Awakening Rustic Decorative Stand Angel At Rest Little Pilot Adorable Boy And Girl Artist Proof Hand Signed By Thomas Blackshear Little Pilot Adorable Girl Hand Signed Artist Proof Star Trek Captain Kirk 25th Anniversary Plate Star Wars Series - Luke And Darth Vader Ready For Battle The Vessel Beauty And The Beast - Unframed Print Star Trek Lt. Uhura 25th Anniversary Plate 1988 Wizard Of Oz If I Were King Of The Forest Golden Breeze Framed Anniversary Edition Beauty And The Beast Du Sable-Commemorative Pane Star Trek Dr. Mccoy 25th Anniversary Plate Zip Doodle Innocent Wonders Watchers In The Night (canvas Edition) With Forgiven Witness Cards Liberty Poster Print TWINKY WINK CLOWN Intimacy (serigraph) Unframed Original Release Artist Proof For You Night In Day - Unframed Print Artist Proof 1988 Wizard Of Oz The Watcher Intimacy (serigraph) Original Release