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