A rare collection of Highwaymen works belonging to Matt and Crystal Samuel will be on display at Fort Pierce City Hall during the entire month of February. The exhibit will include one painting from each of the twenty-six artists who were inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in 2004.
“The generosity of the Samuel family will allow the city to celebrate The Highwaymen in conjunction with Black History Month and our February 20 ribbon cutting ceremony and festival for the Highwaymen Heritage Trail,” explained Linda Hudson, Mayor of Fort Pierce. “We encourage our citizens and visitors to stop by City Hall and enjoy this wonderful exhibit.”
These self-taught entrepreneurs mentored by world-renown artist and Fort Pierce native A.E. “Bean” Backus, substituted Upson board for canvas and crown molding and other scrap wood for frames. Since the mid-1950s, it is estimated that they have created more than 200,000 depictions of Florida landscapes. Most of the artists lived in Fort Pierce or nearby small towns.
Because segregation prohibited them from showing their works in local galleries, they oftentimes sold their art from car trunks along area roadways.
The Highwaymen Art Exhibit will be open to the public during regular City Hall hours – between 8am-5pm Monday-Friday, during the entire month of February. The Planning Department is located on the 2nd floor of City Hall, 100 N. US Highway 1, Fort Pierce. Questions related to the exhibit should be directed to ewoodruff@city-ftpierce.com or 772-467-3169.