Synthia Saint James

Synthia SAINT JAMES’ Biography

Synthia SAINT JAMES is a world renowned self-taught multi- cultural and multimedia visual artist - celebrating over five decades

as a professional artist. 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 17 children's books, two art table books, gift books, several poetry and affirmation books, a cookbook, a co-written play and song, a monologue, 2 marketing books and more.

 
She is 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 first design - which was printed and used on the 32, 33, 34, and 37 cents stamps), and the 2016 Forever Kwanzaa 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, Iyanla Vanzant's Acts of Faith, and a special edition celebrating three of Alice Walker’s books - titled Trilogy - which includes The Color Purple.  But few know that her artwork has been featured in United States Embassies worldwide through the Art in Embassies Program since the 90's.
 
The House of Seagram, Coca Cola USA, Maybelline, Essence Communications, Glendale Memorial Hospital, the Sisters of Providence Foundation, the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles, Barnes and Noble, Marriott Hotels & Resorts and AARP represent a mere sampling of her clients. 

To date, SAINT JAMES has created 17 commissioned paintings for colleges and universities such as Alabama State University, Saint Augustine’s University and Mercy Manhattan College, and over 16 for non-profit organizations such as the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles, Children’s Institute and the Women’s Foundation.
 
Some of her most celebrated collectors include Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr., Glynn Turman, Jenifer Lewis, Regina Taylor, Brenda Russell, Vanessa Bell Calloway, and Pulitzer Prize winning authors Alice Walker and Charles Fuller.

A partial list of the permanent collections that Synthia SAINT JAMES’ works of art are included in: the Obama Presidential Museum, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, the Gibson Dunn Global Law Firm, the Museum of African American Art - Los Angeles, Fisk University, Mercy Manhattan College, Bennett College, Pitzer College, and Spelman College.
 
Awards created by Synthia SAINT JAMES include the "We See You Award”, the "Mosaic Woman Award", and "The Lifetime Achievement Award" - commissioned for His Excellency Nelson Mandela by Africare in 2010.

Currently Synthia SAINT JAMES is booking her “Virtual Offerings” for entities including schools, colleges, universities, organizations, non-profit organizations, businesses, banks, sororities, professional clubs, TV and individuals. The virtual offerings include programs such as “Conversations with the Artist”, “The Business of Art”, “Painting Master Classes”, “Paint and Sips”, “Writing and Illustrating Children’s Books”, “SAINT JAMES Art Exhibitions”, “SAINT JAMES Book Signings”, as well as custom offerings via virtual platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams.