Swan Song 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

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