A. E. Backus Museum and Gallery

A.E. Bean Backus is perhaps one of the most well-known painters in Florida. He is known as the original painter whose primary work covered the wonderful landscape of Florida. The A.E. Backus Museum is dedicated to his artwork for almost 70 years. Albert Ernest Beanie or Bean Backus was born in Fort Pierce, Florida where the museum is located. His childhood nickname of Bean Pot eventually evolved to Bean or Beanie.

The museum was inaugurated in 1961 and has served as the most important cultural and creative arts center on the Treasure Coast, Florida. Alongside the Backus and Highwaymen’s permanent paintings, the museum also organizes various exhibitions by other artists. These temporary exhibits showcase the works of local, national, and international artists.

Highwaymen Paintings​

A E Backus Highwaymen Museum

Highwaymen Paintings in Fort Pierce, FL

A.E Bean Backus is considered the father of the Highwaymen Paintings. Contrary to popular belief, Backus did not paint or create the Highwaymen paintings. However, he was the teacher, influencer, and inspirer of original highwaymen painter, Al Hair. Backus taught Alfred Hair the art of painting the local landscape. Al Hair, in turn, was responsible for teaching other highwaymen who came after him. The Highwaymen paintings started as an entrepreneurial experience for a group of poor African American men to make some extra money. However, the spirit of Highwaymen paintings was destined to reach higher grounds than the few dollars. The evolution of these paintings from a quick copy of Backus’s paintings to true art has made them highly valuable collectives for art lovers.

Al Black Highwaymen Paintings

Highwaymen Paintings Exhibit

Backus generously granted permission to Al Hair and his other African American Highwaymen painters to copy his paintings. The group followed Al Hair’s style of painting with extra-bright and intense colors. In a short period copied many of Backus’s paintings. The idea was to make extra money from tourists or people who could not afford a Backus original. Backus’s love of the Highwaymen painting is evident in his museum’s housing of these paintings. The Backus Museum is the only place of its kind to offer such an exhibition in Florida. It is important to mention that the Backus’s works with Highwaymen took place when segregation was prominent in the area. This is a great testimonial of his legacy as a humanitarian. Today’s wonderful collection of Highwaymen Paintings is solely owed to the A.E. Backus’s unselfish act of mentoring African Americans artists.