Black Heritage Jean Baptiste Set by Thomas Blackshear

Thomas Blackshear Art Gallery

Gallery updated on Sunday, June 14, 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 Swan Song Watchers In The Night (canvas Edition) With Forgiven Witness Cards Catching A Blessing Artist Proof (set of 2) Now What? Lithograph Next Generation Crew - Geordi Laforge Super Bowl XXXVII Commemorative Poster Intimacy Anniversary Edition Number 2 1988 Wizard Of Oz The Great And Powerful Oz Intimacy (serigraph) Original Release Star Trek Mr. Spock 25th Anniversary Plate 1988 Wizard Of Oz We're Off To See The Wizard Magnificent Mare Little Pilot Adorable Girl Hand Signed Artist Proof Wizard Of Oz - A Glimpse Of The Munchkins Angel At Rest Artist Proof Hand Signed By Thomas Blackshear Rustic Decorative Stand Zip Doodle Innocent Wonders Waggletag Next Generation Crew - Dr. Crusher Star Trek Riker - The Next Generation Angel At Rest Forgiven 1988 Wizard Of Oz If I Were King Of The Forest CATCHING A BLESSING GIRL HAND SIGNED ARTIST PROOF Star Trek Collector Plate 25th Anniversary Golden Breeze Framed Anniversary Edition Little Pilot Adorable Boy Hand Signed Artist Proof Indian Paint Brush 1988 Wizard Of Oz Dorothy Meets The Scarecrow Ready For Battle Star Wars Series - Luke And Darth Vader 1988 Wizard Of Oz Preparing to Sound the Alarm Lithograph James Cagney Beauty And The Beast CATCHING A BLESSING BOY HAND SIGNED ARTIST PROOF Star Trek Captain Kirk 25th Anniversary Plate Star Wars Series - R2d2 And Wicket The Sound Of Victory Next Generation Crew - Counselor Troi Liberty Framed Print - Limited Edition Next Generation Crew - Data Du Sable-Commemorative Pane Star Trek Scotty 25th Anniversary Plate Beauty And The Beast Golden Breeze Anniversary Edition Next Generation Crew - Lt. Worf Night In Day - Unframed Print Artist Proof Star Trek Dr. Mccoy 25th Anniversary Plate Star Trek Hikaru Sulu 25th Anniversary Plate Intimacy (serigraph) Unframed Original Release Artist Proof Awakening Dinky Toot Innocent Wonders Texas Chillin Lithograph TWINKY WINK CLOWN The Watcher Classic Movie Monsters Beauty And The Beast - Unframed Print Star Trek Picard - The Next Generation Beauty And The Beast Star Trek Lt. Uhura 25th Anniversary Plate Liberty Poster Print Little Pilot Adorable Boy And Girl Artist Proof Hand Signed By Thomas Blackshear The Vessel Liberty Print Only - Limited Edition Pinkie Poo Innocent Wonders Artist Signed For You