Florida Highwaymen Exhibit at the One Stop Shop
"Florida Highwaymen: From the Street Corner to the Smithsonian"
On view now through August 2027 at the City of Sarasota One Stop Shop, Second Floor
(1575 Second Street, Sarasota, FL)
Open Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on City Holidays.
About the Exhibit
The Florida Highwaymen were a group of 26 African‑American artists who emerged in mid‑twentieth‑century Florida, creating vibrant, expressive depictions of rivers, beaches, wetlands, tropical skies, and other natural scenery. Their story spans decades of resilience and innovation, beginning with selling landscape paintings along Florida roads at a time when traditional galleries were not accessible to Black artists, and ultimately leading to recognition in major museum collections.
This installation presents selected works from the “From the Street Corner to the Smithsonian” collection, highlighting the subjects, techniques, and distinctive style that helped define Florida’s landscape painting during that era.
Exhibit Partner
Presented in collaboration with Highwaymen Art Specialists. All paintings in this exhibit are on loan from the Roger Lightle Collection.
Artists on View
Harold Newton
Harold Newton was a founding painter of the Highwaymen and is often cited for technical mastery and carefully rendered scenes of Florida coasts and wetlands. His work and example shaped the craft of many other artists associated with the movement.
Alfred Hair was a catalyst of the Highwaymen enterprise and a leader among early painters. He worked quickly with bold color choices and encouraged direct sales of landscapes at a time when galleries excluded Black artists in Florida.
Roy McLendon was among the earliest Highwaymen and developed a measured approach to painting. He produced landscapes and narrative scenes and shared guidance with peers and younger painters in the community.
Willie Daniels created strong, color rich landscapes influenced by early Highwaymen mentors. Raised in Fort Pierce, he learned the Highwaymen’s fast painting methods and developed an atmospheric style recognized by collectors.
Sam Newton, younger brother of Harold Newton, pursued an independent path as a painter while historically connected to the group. He often worked in larger formats and emphasized precision and depth in portrayals of Florida’s natural scenes.
Mary Ann Carroll was the only woman among the original Highwaymen. She traveled Florida selling her work for decades, building a career through resilience, strong color, and a commitment to capturing the state’s tropical beauty.
Livingston Roberts, known as Castro, joined Alfred Hair and Harold Newton in the earliest days of painting and selling along Florida roads. He was respected for distinctive brushwork, luminous skies, and generous mentorship of fellow artists.
Sylvester Wells refined his landscape approach with guidance from Highwaymen peers and became known for glowing sunset scenes, palms, and ocean views. He later devoted significant time to ministry while continuing to be admired for sincere artistry.
James Gibson was an early and prolific Highwayman. Known for expressive skies and strong business acumen, he produced large bodies of work and is remembered for helping bring Florida landscape art to wider audiences.
Visit
City of Sarasota One Stop Shop, Second Floor
1575 Second Street, Sarasota, FL 34236