Synthia Saint James

Synthia Saint James (born February 11, 1949) is an American visual artist, author, keynote speaker, educator and actor in the 70s. She is best known for designing the original cover art of the hardcover edition of Terry McMillan's book Waiting to Exhale. Additionally, Saint James designed the first Kwanzaa stamp for the United States Postal Service, first issued in 1997 and the Kwanzaa Forever Stamp, issued in 2016.

Biography
Synthia Saint James was raised in Los Angeles, California and the Bronx, New York. She sold her first painting in New York City at the age of 20. She currently lives in Los Angeles.

Career
In 1976, Synthia Saint James appeared in the film Emma Mae (also known as Black Sister's Revenge). The film is set in Compton, CA and played the role of Ulika Stansell, cousin to the title-character Emma Mae. In 1977 she appeared as the spokesperson and counter girl in a national McDonald's TV commercial.

Saint James had her first solo art exhibition in 1977 at the Inner City Cultural Center in Los Angeles, California, where she studied performing arts. In 1980, she participated in her first international exhibition in Paris, France. She received an honorary doctorate (Doctor of Humane Letters) from Saint Augustine's University, Raleigh, North Carolina, on May 8, 2010.

Adult literature

 * Saint James, Synthia (2015). In and Out of Love: Selected Poetry from the 1970s. Atelier SAINT JAMES. ISBN 978-0692608029.
 * Saint James, Synthia (2016). Creative Fixings from the Kitchen: Multicultural Delights. Atelier SAINT JAMES. ISBN 978-0692359839.
 * Saint James, Synthia (2016). Honey Suckle Kisses. Atelier SAINT JAMES. ISBN 978-0692712320.
 * Saint James, Synthia (2016). I AM EDMONIA LEWIS and I AM WILDFIRE (A Monologue). Atelier SAINT JAMES. ISBN 978-1539035848.
 * Saint James, Synthia (2016). Honey Suckle Kisses: Love's Refreshment. Atelier SAINT JAMES. ISBN 978-1539014171.
 * Saint James, Synthia (2015). In and Out of Love: Selected Poetry from the 1970s. Atelier SAINT JAMES. ISBN 978-0692608029.
 * Saint James, Synthia (2016). Creative Fixings from the Kitchen: Multicultural Delights. Atelier SAINT JAMES. ISBN 978-0692359839.
 * Saint James, Synthia (2016). Honey Suckle Kisses. Atelier SAINT JAMES. ISBN 978-0692712320.
 * Saint James, Synthia (2016). I AM EDMONIA LEWIS and I AM WILDFIRE (A Monologue). Atelier SAINT JAMES. ISBN 978-1539035848.
 * Saint James, Synthia (2016). Honey Suckle Kisses: Love's Refreshment. Atelier SAINT JAMES. ISBN 978-1539014171.
 * Saint James, Synthia (2015). In and Out of Love: Selected Poetry from the 1970s. Atelier SAINT JAMES. ISBN 978-0692608029.
 * Saint James, Synthia (2016). Creative Fixings from the Kitchen: Multicultural Delights. Atelier SAINT JAMES. ISBN 978-0692359839.
 * Saint James, Synthia (2016). Honey Suckle Kisses. Atelier SAINT JAMES. ISBN 978-0692712320.
 * Saint James, Synthia (2016). I AM EDMONIA LEWIS and I AM WILDFIRE (A Monologue). Atelier SAINT JAMES. ISBN 978-1539035848.
 * Saint James, Synthia (2016). Honey Suckle Kisses: Love's Refreshment. Atelier SAINT JAMES. ISBN 978-1539014171.

43rd NAACP Image Awards (2012)
"Living My Dream: An Artistic Approach to Marketing": Outstanding Literary Work-Instructional category.