James Cagney 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

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