The Florida Highwaymen Return to Bay Preserve

January 17, 2025 | Sarasota

Big Waters Land Trust, formerly Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, is thrilled to host a collective of Florida Highwaymen and their heirs for a special one-day-only exhibition of their legendary art. The event will take place, Saturday, February 1, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm at Big Waters’ Bay Preserve headquarters located at 400 Palmetto Avenue in Osprey.

“We are truly delighted to welcome these extraordinary artists,” comments Christine P. Johnson, president of Big Waters. “Beyond highlighting stunning natural landscapes like the places we protect, the Florida Highwaymen are an integral part of Florida’s cultural history. We are honored to have them back at Bay Preserve for this special event.”

From the early 1950s through the 1980s, twenty-six African-American artists – now known as the Florida Highwaymen – used vivid and bright colors to paint scenes of beautiful, untouched Florida. Excluded from showing their work in galleries or museums in Jim Crow era Florida, they piled their paintings into the trunks of their cars and sold them along US Highway 1, thus earning the name “Highwaymen.” Today, their vibrant paintings are highly-collectible and widely sought after.

Three artists will be in attendance on February 1 – Curtis Arnett, Doretha Hair Truesdell, and Roderick Hair – along with Kandie Ingram, who is representing her late mother, Mary Ann Carroll. Artwork will be available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Big Waters’ mission to protect the land and water of Southwest Florida for the benefit of people and nature. Cash or check are preferred as not all artists are able to accept credit cards.

Parking for the event is offsite at First Baptist Church of Osprey and Victory Baptist Church. Limited handicapped parking is available on site. Those attempting to enter the Bay Preserve parking lot will be re-routed unless a parking permit is shown. A trolley will run on a loop to transport guests between the event space and parking areas.

Learn more and register at bigwaterslandtrust.org/highwaymen. This is a free, drop-in event though Big Waters asks those planning to attend to please register online. Additional details will be provided via email as the event approaches. Tolearn more about the individual artists or the Highwaymen as a whole, visit floridahighwaymenpaintings.com.