Which artist designed the first United States Kwanzaa stamp?

The artist who designed the first United States Kwanzaa stamp was Synthia Saint James.

Saint James created the original U.S. Kwanzaa stamp for the Postal Service, which issued it in 1997 as part of its Holiday Celebrations series. The design used colorful figures and Kwanzaa symbols to represent the holiday’s cultural themes and seven guiding principles.

The stamp made Kwanzaa visible in a nationwide civic and cultural setting, extending recognition beyond local celebrations. Saint James later designed another Kwanzaa stamp, a Forever stamp issued in 2016, so the 1997 design is specifically remembered as the first.

Saint James is also known for illustrating the original hardcover cover of Terry McMillan’s novel Waiting to Exhale. The stamp was not designed by Elizabeth Catlett, Betye Saar, or Faith Ringgold, all influential artists associated with African American art but not this first Kwanzaa issue.