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