Albert Ernest “A.E.” Backus (1906-1990) was a prominent Florida landscape artist known not only for his creative legacy but for his altruistic spirit and fostering the arts in his community, regardless of class and race. Upon his return from World War II, he purchased a home in Fort Pierce, Florida, where he established a studio, and cultivated a bohemian, salon-style environment where all were welcome. Despite the punishing segregation laws of Jim Crow era South, in 1955, he took the 19-year-old African American artist Harold Newton under his wing, and encouraged him to paint landscapes instead of religious scenes.

Fort Myers, Florida. Photo courtesy Fort Myers - Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods.

At the time, galleries in South Florida did not represent Black artists, so Newton took to selling his paintings out of the trunk of his car. The following year, 14-year-old Alfred Hair began taking formal art classes from Backus and within several years was taking his landscapes on the road.

Photograph of a road sign along the highway in Key West, Florida, 1951, announcing the beginning of U.S. Route 1 to Fort Kent, Maine. National Archives and Records Administration, Office of Presidential Libraries, Harry S. Truman Library.

“[Hair] quickly was selling as many as 50 paintings a week and earning a considerable amount of money for the time—enough to buy himself a Cadillac,” notes a website dedicated to the burgeoning movement’s legacy. “To keep up with demand, Hair began working in what he called his ‘fast style’ of painting, working on his paintings in an almost assembly-line fashion with 20 to 30 canvases propped up around his home and yard, methodically and quickly moving from one to the next as he filled in foreground, mid-ground, and background, skies, waterways, and vibrant landscapes for each unique work.”

Mary Ann Carroll (1940-2019), Untitled, oil on board, 30 x 36". Courtesy of Antony Hayton, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Soon, other young African American artists, inspired by Newton and Hair, followed suit, also selling their art up and down U.S. Highway 1, along the state’s east coast.

It wasn’t until the mid-1990s that the loose-knit group of 26 artists were dubbed the Florida Highwaymen, after Jim Fitch, a Florida art historian and Jeff Klinkenberg of the St. Petersburg Times, wrote several articles about the artists, igniting a renewed interest in their idyllic Florida landscapes that resulted in an uptick in sales and their value.

Of the 26, Newton, Hair, Roy McLendon, James Gibson, Livingston Roberts, Mary Ann Carroll (the only woman among them), Sam Newton, Willie Daniels and Al Black are generally considered the group’s founding members.

Alfred Hair (1941-1970), Royal Poinciana, oil on Upson board, 30 x 60". Courtesy of Antony Hayton, Ottowa, Ontario, Canada.

“In the early 1950s through the 1980s…the Florida Highwaymen used vivid and bright colors to display the beautiful untouched Florida landscape,” the website continues. “The Florida Highwaymen painted wind-bent palm trees, serene sunsets, churning oceans and bright red Poinciana trees. They painted from their garages and back yards on inexpensive Upson board and then on the weekends they would travel and sell their Highwaymen paintings to hotels, offices, businesses and individuals who appreciated the artwork for around $25 a piece.”

Their renown grew internationally during the early 2000s and have since been recognized for their extensive contribution and vivid documentation of Florida culture and history. In 2004, all 26 Florida Highwaymen were inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame.

Harold Newton (1934-1994), Rough Sea, Palms on Sand Dune. ca. 1984, oil paint on fiberboard, 255⁄8 x 37¾". Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Robert and Flory Kahn in memory of Wolf and Tybe Kahn.

“The Highwaymen style of painting was indeed a version of Backus’ lauded landscapes but filtered through their own perceptions and experience of the natural world around them,” the Florida Highwaymen website continues. “Gary Moore [an author, professor and expert on the group] calls their work, ‘a version of the American Dream with a tropical twist,’  and describes them as intuitive painters and brilliant colorists who were, for the most part, working from observation and without academic training. ‘They left a visual legacy of modern Florida,’ Moore says. “It’s their paintings that captured midcentury Florida—with eloquence and insight.’”

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Alliance for the Arts
10091 McGregor Boulevard, Fort Myers, FL 33919
(239) 939-2787, www.artinlee.org
Now celebrating its 50th year, the Alliance for the Arts is a vibrant and welcoming nonprofit visual and performing arts center located in the heart of Southwest Florida. Since the 1970s, the organization has been dedicated to transforming lives and improving community through the arts. The year-round schedule of events has become a staple for the Fort Myers community, providing a way to connect with each other and to the arts through engaging gallery exhibitions, inspiring art classes and stimulating theater productions.

Clockwise from top left: Alliance for the Arts, Out on a Limb, pastel, 18 x 18", by Nancy Nowak. Alliance for the Arts, Curacao Koi, pastel,  40 x 30", by Maureen Gerrity. Alliance for the Arts’ 10-acre campus includes a performing arts theater, an outdoor amphitheater and three art galleries with a full schedule of exhibitions throughout the year.

An upcoming highlight of their 2025 season is Pop-Up Art Museum50, a special anniversary exhibition juried by internationally-renowned painter Marcus Jansen. Featuring 50 museum-quality works by contemporary artists from across Southwest Florida, the exhibition will be held March 1 and March 2 at the Alliance for the Arts campus, and will include hors d’oeuvres and special performances.

The annual All Florida Exhibition is the Alliance for the Arts’ most anticipated show of the year, and will be on view March 7 through March 29. As the name suggests, this exhibition features pieces created by established and emerging artists working in a wide variety of media from across the entire state. Now in its 39th year, this show is the Alliance’s longest running exhibition.

On April 5, the Alliance hosts its 50th Anniversary Feast of the Senses Gala, a harmonious blend of local agriculture, culinary artistry and vibrant artistic expression. Guests will enjoy a gourmet five course menu highlighting the freshest, locally-sourced ingredients prepared by renowned chefs as well as live performances and art exhibits that showcase the creativity and talent of the Alliance for the Arts community.

For a full and detailed schedule of events and exhibitions, visit the Alliance for the Arts website at www.artinlee.org.

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33 Contemporary Gallery
500 N. Dixie Highway, Lake Worth, FL 33460
(708) 837-4534, sergio@33contemporary.com
www.33contemporary.com
Located within the stunning Palm Beach Art and Design Showroom in Palm Beach County, Florida, 33 Contemporary Gallery offers a carefully curated selection of contemporary realism, figurative art and abstract paintings. Showcasing both emerging and established artists from around the world, the gallery’s exhibitions provide a diverse array of perspectives and styles.

33 Contemporary, Bikers, oil on linen, 59 x 79", by Michele Del Campo; 33 Contemporary, For the Love of Ivy, oil on panel, 60 x 48", by O’Neil Scott.

33 Contemporary Gallery takes pride in its ongoing programming, which includes group and solo exhibitions as well as exclusive online showcases in partnership with PoetsArtists. The gallery has a strong commitment to figurative painting, featuring renowned artists such as O’Neil Scott, Tim Okamura, Erica Calardo, Shawn Michael Warren, Viktoria Savenkova, Kate Van Doren and many others.

33 Contemporary, Je Suis Assez (I am Enough), oil and pan pastel on gallery-wrapped Dibond, 36 x 36", by Kate Van Doren.

With over 2,000 works available through its inventory on Artsy.net, 33 Contemporay offers art enthusiasts the opportunity to explore and acquire exceptional pieces from its collection. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just beginning your journey into the art world, 33 Contemporary invites you to get in touch or visit the gallery to discover your next acquisition.

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Naples Art District
5850 Shirley Street, Unit 104 Naples, FL 34109
(239) 249-1977
naplesartdistrict@gmail.com
www.naplesartdistrict.com
The Naples Art District serves as a vibrant hub for art with the largest concentration of working artists in Southwest Florida. More than 100 artists, working in diverse media including painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, jewelry, glass, fiber arts and more, have studios scattered throughout this unique, eclectic neighborhood. Open studios, themed events and workshops abound on a regular basis throughout the season. The Naples Art District offers an immersive experience where visitors can engage with the artists in their working studios, witness their creative process, and buy or commission art directly from the artists.

Naples Arts District artist Jill Gordon at work on a large-scale abstract; Naples Arts District artist Jill Gordon’s finished piece Color Wave.

Meet Naples artists during the district’s Open Studio events held every Thursday afternoon and Second Saturdays from 1 to 5 p.m., from November through April, when studios are open to the community.

Visit the Naples Art District website for a map of the district and full details of upcoming events.

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Hope Reis
Vero Beach, FL
hopereis@bellsouth.net
www.hopereis.com
(561) 644-9594
Hope Reis doodled throughout childhood. She began her art career in interior design, but later fell in love with painting after designing floor canvases around people’s interior settings, a process that eventually led to pursuing her life’s work of oil painting.

Hope Reis, Scottish Interior, oil on canvas, 10 x 14"; Hope Reis, Grand Salon View to the Piano, oil on canvas, 16 x 12"

She has been told her works have a dreamy, romantic quality and that feeling is what she seeks. Continually inspired by the richness of the work of the Old Masters and Impressionists, she has searched to find what it is that she wants to say, in her own way.

“For me, to see beauty is my job,” says Reis, “and what a fabulous way to honor my Creator. Truly I want my work to reflect the appreciation I feel for the glorious beauty God has given us all to enjoy."

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Lighthouse ArtCenter
373 Tequesta Drive Tequesta, FL 33469
(561) 746-3101
www.lighthousearts.org
Lighthouse ArtCenter (LAC) has been a vibrant cultural hub for Palm Beach and Martin counties for over 60 years. Located in the charming seaside town of Tequesta, Florida, its mission is to inspire, engage and connect the community through the universal language of art. Now a three-building campus with state-of-the-art facilities, LAC attracts over 20,000 visitors yearly, offering various exhibitions, events, classes and workshops designed to enrich and inspire.

Top: Lighthouse ArtCenter, SMARTAZZ, graphite on luan, 48 x 68", by Tyler K. Smith. Lighthouse ArtCenter hosts regular rotating exhibitions in its state-of-the-art gallery. Bottom: Lighthouse ArtCenter, Golden Morning,  12 x 24", by Kari Ganoung Ruiz.

LAC presents an exciting lineup of exhibitions and events this season beginning with Brainz’ N Boltz, an exhibition by New York-based artist Tyler K. Smith on view through February 7. On February 14 and 15, Grammy award winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, Jason Newsted, will perform a live concert in the gallery with his band, Jason Newsted & Friends. These concerts are a collaborative celebration of creativity, weaving together the dynamic energy of Newsted’s music with the visual wonder of Smith’s work.

The season culminates with LAC’s 12th Annual Plein Air Festival, opening on March 2. This week-long event draws top artists from across the nation to capture the beauty of local landscapes through plein air painting. The festival features artist demonstrations, special events and opportunities to purchase fresh, original artwork.

Closing out the season is Roadside Reveries, a group exhibition about the altered states of travel and vacations featuring over 20 artists with ties to Florida, on view from April 24 through August 5.

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Tampa Museum of Art
120 Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 274-8130, hello@tampamuseum.org
www.tampamuseum.org

Tampa Museum of Art. Photo by Albert Vecerka ESTO, courtesy of Weiss Manfredi.

Nestled in the heart of downtown Tampa, Florida, the Tampa Museum of Art (TMA) stands as a beacon for art enthusiasts because of its iconic art exhibitions and views of the famed Riverwalk. With a rich history spanning 105 years, the museum showcases an eclectic mix of ancient, modern and contemporary artworks. It takes special pride in its extensive collection of Greek and Roman antiquities, and has established itself as a premier destination for 20th-century Haitian art and post-1970 photography. TMA’s permanent collection includes pieces by luminaries such as Frank Stella, Jaume Plensa and Cindy Sherman. In addition, the museum frequently features exhibitions that reflect Tampa’s diverse community and cultural heritage. A visit promises a visual treat and an immersive experience into the world of art and creativity.

Tampa Museum of Art, TMA’s Noble Collection of Greek and Roman Antiquities; Tampa Museum of Art, installation view of the exhibition Jennifer Steinkamp: Madame Curie.

Some of the exhibitions currently on view include Ancient Athens: Birthplace of Democracy (through May 18), The Art of Coptic Egypt (through September 28), Jennifer Steinkamp: Madame Curie, (through August 10), Suchitra Mattai: Bodies and Souls (through April 20) and Joseph Veach Noble: Through the Eye of a Collector (through February 19). For more information on these and other upcoming exhibitions visit www.tampamuseum.org. —

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