March 12, 2026 to May 17, 2026
Florida Highwaymen Painters
This exhibition features 26 self-taught Black artists who overcame systemic barriers to paint and sell Florida landscapes from the 1950s to the 1980s. Their story bridges art history and social history, revealing how creative practice can become both an act of resistance and a pathway to self-determination. Long known collectively as the “Highwaymen,” they painted quickly and prolifically, often completing a dozen canvases a day. Denied access to traditional galleries, they built an entrepreneurial network, selling their still-wet paintings door-to-door, in offices and hotels, and along Florida’s newly built highways for about $25 each. Their art became a thriving business that captured the imagination of tourists, new homeowners, and locals during Florida’s postwar population and tourism boom. In doing so, they democratized access to art, reaching audiences far beyond the confines of traditional institutions.
Artwork pictured: Harold Newton, Sunset in Paradise, around 1970. Oil on board. Collection of Jonathan Otto
Related Partners
The Westmoreland Museum of American Art221 N. Main St.
Greensburg, Pennsylvania 15601
