Paintings of Nostalgic Florida: The Original Highwaymen Artists will feature works by Issac Knight, Robert L. Lewis, Willie Reagan, James Gibson, Johnnie Daniels, and Harold Newton . Pieces will be available for sale.

Join the Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science in welcoming our most ambitious art exhibition yet. Through Paintings of Nostalgic Florida: The Original Highwaymen Artists, we explore the unique history of the 25 men and one woman who came to be known as the Florida Highwaymen.

Opening Reception
Held Friday, April 6th from 6pm – 9pm, the opening reception features wine, heavy hors d’oeuvres, posters, and the opportunity to meet the artists themselves. R.L. Lewis and Willie Reagan will be in attendance. Additionally, Gary Monroe, author of the book "The Highwaymen: Florida's African American Landscape Artists" and several books about individual Highwaymen, will be giving a presentation during the opening reception.

Ticket proceeds benefit the Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science. Reception tickets are $25 per person and $20 for museum and FHS members.

Saturday demonstrations
Demonstrations by the artists will be held throughout the month. Please monitor our website for changes to the demonstration schedule as they are subject to change. The exhibit and demonstrations are included with general admission.
April 7 – Lewis
April 14 – Arnett and Knight
April 21 – Knight
April 28 – Lewis

From the late 1950’s to the early 1980’s, a group of largely self-taught African American artists from Fort Pierce created tranquil scenes of undeveloped Florida. They painted in backyards and garages, often on inexpensive upson board, and sold their pieces all across Florida while traveling down I-95 and Highway A1A. At the time, paintings cost Floridians and tourists $10 to $35 dollars. Today, those same pieces may be valued anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000.

In the past few decades, there has been a renewed interest in Highwaymen art. The vivid sunsets, windswept palm trees, sandy beaches, tranquil marshes, and scarlet Poinciana trees are now widely sought after as both art and as pieces of Florida history. A small number of the Highwaymen artists continue to paint today, including those contributing to the Brevard Museum’s exhibition.