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