8 of the highwaymen are still alive today | The Florida Highwaymen #art #painting #history

Thanks! Share it with your friends!

You disliked this video. Thanks for the feedback!

Added 8 hours ago by

1 Views

The Florida Highwaymen were a group of 26 African American artists, including one woman, who emerged in the 1950s and painted vivid landscapes of Florida. Shut out of traditional galleries due to segregation, they developed a unique entrepreneurial model—selling their paintings door-to-door and along highways, often out of their car trunks. Their art, featuring wind-bent palm trees, coastal waters, and vibrant sunsets, captured Florida’s natural beauty and became highly sought after.

Alfred Hair and Harold Newton were the founding figures, mentored by white landscape artist A.E. Backus. Hair emphasized speed and volume, while Newton focused on artistry. Other members, such as Mary Ann Carroll, the group's only woman, played key roles in the movement. Their fast-painting technique allowed them to create and sell art affordably, originally priced at $25–$35.

The group gained recognition in the 1990s when Florida gallery owner Jim Fitch coined the term "Highwaymen." Researcher Gary Monroe further documented their legacy, confirming the original 26 artists. Their work is now displayed in museums, including the Smithsonian, and their paintings have dramatically increased in value, sometimes fetching tens of thousands of dollars.