Former MSU professor creates portraits for Postal Service Revolutionary War stamp collection
Contact: Carl Smith
STARKVILLE, Miss.—An upcoming collection of U.S. Postal Service stamps honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary features a retired Mississippi State professor’s artwork.
Set for release in 2026, the Figures of the American Revolution series includes portraits of the enslaved Continental Army spy James Armistead and political philosopher Thomas Paine painted by former MSU Associate Professor of Art Alex Bostic.
Announced in October, the series honors 25 historical figures who shaped the birth of the nation and is among 19 new collections—many of which highlight American history, icons and pastimes.
“To be one of 12 artists creating images for this series is a rare honor,” Bostic said. “I’m the only artist from Mississippi that worked on this project, and that’s exciting for me. I’m happy about building a legacy with my work that my family can see across the country and say, ‘Wow, my dad or granddad did this.’ My students were part of everything I did as a teacher, and I always tried to pass on the experiences of honors and activities like these to them.”
An artist and illustrator with almost 50 years of experience, Bostic previously was featured in the USPS Black Heritage Series with his original 2022 portrait of Edmonia Lewis, who is regarded as the first African American and Native American sculptor to achieve international recognition. He also created a stamp in honor of Queen Elizabeth II, was commissioned for other projects by the governments of Liberia and the Republic of the Congo, and illustrated “Free at Last: A Juneteenth Poem,” a 32-page children’s book about the historically and culturally significant holiday, among other notable work.
Bostic’s professional career includes time as a U.S. Navy illustrator draftsman, movie poster designer and Hallmark greeting card artist. His academic career includes a 20-year stint at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he served as an associate professor. He joined MSU’s Department of Art in 2010 and retired in 2023.
For more information about the Figures of the American Revolution collection, visit www.stampsforever.com/stamps/figures-of-the-american-revolution.
Housed within MSU’s College of Architecture, Art and Design, the Department of Art is available online at www.caad.msstate.edu/academics/majors/art.
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