World-renowed visual artist Synthia SAINT JAMES celebrates her 56th anniversary as a professional artist this year - selling her first painting at the age of 20 in New York City.
She is best known for creating the first Kwanzaa stamp that was released in 1997 and her second Kwanzaa stamp - a Forever stamp released in 2016.
SAINT JAMES is also noted for the original cover art of Terry McMillan's "Waiting to Exhale" and over 75 book covers that include books by Alice Walker and Iyanla Vanzant.
A small taste of her fine art collectors include Pulitzer Prize winning author Alice Walker and playwright Charles Fuller - Pulitzer and Tony Award winning author of A Soldiers Story. The Obama Presidential Museum, Art-in-Embassies (United States), Fisk University, The Schomburg, Glendale Memorial Hospital, Sisters of Providence Foundation and Bennett College.
Commissioned Public Art for Tampa (FL) Library - Stained Glass Windows, Elevator Doors for East End Complex in Sacramento, CA. Mural Designs for Affordable Living Complexes, Licensed art for all of Marriott Aruba's 227 Guestrooms.
Commissioned Paintings for 17 Colleges and Universities, over 14 organizations and several for Private Collectors.
Licensed art for Barnes and Noble products in store and online, and a multitude of awards and honors including The Trumpet Award (first painter), YWCA Silver Achievement Award and an Honorary Doctor of Humanity from Saint Augustine's University Raleign, NC.
Artist Statement
Painting for me is like a breath of fresh air, refreshing, revitalizing and essential.
