The Florida Highwaymen were a collection of friends, 25 men and 1 woman, who beginning in the late 1960s made their living from painting. This was an unusual occurrence in that the friends were black and they were selling their paintings to a white audience in the segregated South.
The artists were motivated by economic urgency to earn a “good” living that could not be achieved by through agricultural labor. Showing skills in early childhood, they later later discovered that those skills would enable them to earn a profitable living creating art.
From these humble beginnings a new art movement emerged—Florida Regional Landscape School which some consider the last great American art movement of the 20th century. Today we celebrate them for their ingenuity, creativity, entrepreneurship and perseverance.
Their achievement of artistic and commercial success was unparalleled. Among numerous honors and accolades, the Highwaymen as a group were inducted into the Florida Hall of Fame.
The artists were motivated by economic urgency to earn a “good” living that could not be achieved by through agricultural labor. Showing skills in early childhood, they later later discovered that those skills would enable them to earn a profitable living creating art.
From these humble beginnings a new art movement emerged—Florida Regional Landscape School which some consider the last great American art movement of the 20th century. Today we celebrate them for their ingenuity, creativity, entrepreneurship and perseverance.
Their achievement of artistic and commercial success was unparalleled. Among numerous honors and accolades, the Highwaymen as a group were inducted into the Florida Hall of Fame.
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- Highway Men
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