Black Heritage Jean Baptiste Set 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

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