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Synthia Saint James
World Renowned Multicultural Visual Artist
Synthia Saint James
World Renowned Multicultural Visual Artist
Biography
Synthia SAINT JAMES is a world renowned multicultural visual artist, and award-winning author and/or illustrator of 17 children's books, several poetry and affirmation books, a cookbook, a play, a monologue, and 2 marketing books. Her most recent books include - Healers, Orishas, Shamans and Deities: The Healing Art of Synthia SAINT JAMES - in which she shares twelve of her paintings created between March and November 2020 and healing inspirations, her first short novel Hyacinth: A Novelette, and her first art table book My Multicultural World - all available on Amazon.
She is a popular keynote speaker, educator and public art designer who has garnered numerous awards, including the prestigious Trumpet Award, a Coretta Scott King Award, a HistoryMaker Award, and an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Saint Augustine's University. Dr. SAINT JAMES also serves as a Global Ambassador for Susan G. Komen for the Cure's "Circle of Promise”.
Synthia 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 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 international cover art for Terry McMillan's Waiting to Exhale and Iyanla Vanzant's Acts of Faith. But few know that her artwork has been featured in United States Embassies worldwide through the Art in Embassies Program since the 1990's.
The House of Seagram, Coca Cola USA, Maybelline, Essence Communications, National Coalition of 100 Black Men, Glendale Memorial Hospital, YWCA of Greater Los Angeles, Barnes and Noble, Marriott Hotels & Resorts and AARP represent a mere sampling of her clients. She has also created 17 commissioned paintings for colleges and universities and over 16 for non-profit organizations including her recent painting “HER Vision for Empowerment” for PAI.org.
Some of her most celebrated collectors include Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr., Alice Walker, Jenifer Lewis, Glynn Turman, Regina Taylor, Brenda Russell, Charles Fuller and Vanessa Bell Calloway.
Awards created by Synthia SAINT JAMES include the "We See You Award", the "Mosaic Woman Award", and "The Lifetime Achievement Award" especially commissioned for His Excellency Nelson Mandela by Africare in 2010.
Speaker Videos
Profile Highlight
Celebrating “Unstoppable” | Mercy College
Barrier Boards
Speech Topics
The Creative World of Synthia SAINT JAMES
This is an interactive lecture about her life in creativity and includes: Synthia the visual artist, the public art designer, the author and the educator.
The Life & Dreams of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: Inspired Paintings
An interactive lecture about Dr. King's life and legacy, which includes the presentation/discussion on the paintings inspired by his life that SAINT JAMES created: "The Dream", "How Long Not Long", "Origin of The Dream" and "MLK: Called To Serve".
The Healing Art of Synthia SAINT JAMES
A lecture about the healing effect that art often has - so many hospitals and medical centers feature my artworks on their walls because of that fact. It also speaks to the healing of Art Therapy for patients, clients, employees, and students. Part of the lecture is a presentation of some of SAINT JAMES' paintings - interactive in that the audience shares their emotional response to each painting.
My Sheroes: Edmonia Lewis, Katherine Dunham & Lena Horne
Each woman has inspired SAINT JAMES in one or more ways. What the 3 women (all Black & FAMOUS) - an artist - dancer/choreographer - singer/actress - all have in common: they were Civil Rights Activists. This keynote speaks to their careers (in photos) and little known facts about their activism.
Living My Dream: The Business of Art
The business of art isn't taught in colleges/universities and SAINT JAMES often includes this talk/workshop in her artist-in-residencies. The lecture focuses on the business side of creativity.
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