Synthia SAINT JAMES

Synthia SAINT JAMES is a world-renowned self-taught multicultural and multimedia visual artist celebrating nearly six decades as a professional artist. In addition, she’s a designer of architectural finishes such as ceramic tile and painted wall murals, stained glass windows and even elevator doors.

SAINT JAMES is also an award-winning author and/or illustrator of eighteen children's books, three art table books, gift books, several poetry and affirmation books, a cookbook, a co-written play and a song, a monologue, and two marketing books. Her most recent art table book - "My Multicultural World Volume Two" - was published in August 2026. It showcases seventy-nine of her paintings in full color - the majority of which were created in 2022 through July 2026. Synthia’s a popular keynote speaker, educator and public art designer who has garnered numerous awards, including the prestigious Trumpet Award in the Arts, a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor, a HistoryMaker Award, and an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Saint Augustine’s University. Dr. SAINT JAMES also serves as one of the Global Ambassadors for Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s “Circle of Promise” – for which she created the signature painting.

SAINT JAMES’ United States Postal Service stamp designs include the first Kwanzaa Commemorative Stamp in 1997. (A total of 318 million stamps were printed using her design – which was used on the 32, 33, 34 and 37 cents stamps.), and the 2016 Kwanzaa Forever Stamp celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Kwanzaa holiday. Her paintings grace the covers of over 75 books – including the original cover art for Terry McMillan’s Waiting to Exhale and Iyanla Vanzant’s Acts of Faith and a book club edition of three books by Alice Walker that included The Color Purple.

But few know that her artworks have been essential to the décor of U.S. Embassies through the Art-in-Embassies Program since the 90s. A partial list includes: Caracas, Venezuela, Gagnoa, Ghana, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, Abuja, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kinshasa, Asmara, Eritrea, Singapore, Lome, Togo, Valleta, Malta, Juba, South Sudan, Paris, France, Tokyo, Japan, Nairobi, Kenya, Pretoria, S. Africa, London, UK, and New Delhi, India.

She has created commissioned paintings and designs for major companies including Maybelline, Barnes and Noble, Coca Cola, and AARP, sixteen for non-profit organizations, and eighteen for colleges and universities.

Synthia SAINT JAMES keynote speeches and lectures often share her artistic journey - a popular inspirational subject requested by many of her clients. Her other topics are designed for Black and Women's Herstory/History Months, and the MLK and Juneteenth holidays as well as custom presentations.

Her works of art are included in several prominent permanent fine art collections including the Obama Presidential Center's Museum, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, the Studio Museum in Harlem, and several institutes of higher learning including Fisk University.