Black Heritage Jean Baptiste Set by Thomas Blackshear

Thomas Blackshear Art Gallery

Gallery updated on Friday, June 19, 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

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