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About The Highwaymen
The name "Highwaymen" was
given to African American landscape artists who traveled and painted
what they saw. The paintings were then sold out of the trunk of their
cars. Paintings were also carried into local Florida Businesses or
just set up along side the highway. The Highwaymen originated from the
Fort Pierce, Florida (Treasure Coast) area during the early to mid 50's when
white Florida landscape artist, A. E. Bean Backus began to tutor a young
African American teenager named Alfred Hair. Other aspiring artists
such as Harold Newton soon followed Hair's lead--looking for a way of making
a decent living. Highwaymen paintings were executed in rapid style and
sold inexpensively along the highways in and around Vero Beach and Fort
Pierce. The demand and appreciation for their stunning and realistic Florida
landscapes has increased, and locating an older painting is quite a treasure
hunt. Pictured is Willie C. Reagan, one of the original Florida Highwaymen artists.
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