Florida’s tourism industry not only spawned roadside attractions, but roadside artists. 

The Florida Highwaymen were a group of about two dozen self-taught African-Americans from the Fort Pierce area, who painted tropical landscapes for tourists. For canvases, the artists sometimes used roofing tiles or other scraps.

The images were often peddled from cars parked along the side of coastal highways, and sometimes were still wet when sold. The price: usually $25. But the artists considered their profession a better fate then working in orange groves.

The Highwaymen worked from the 1950s to the ‘80s. Eventually their creations were recognized as folk art and ended up in galleries, museums, and art auctions.

The Cummer Museum of Art in Jacksonville just opened an exhibit of their work this week. It centers on Al Black, a Highwayman who ended up in prison, where his talent was discovered and he was allowed to paint murals. The exhibit includes both Highwaymen paintings and photos of Black’s murals by author Gary Monroe. It remains on view through January 4.

Picture: Royal Poinciana, painted by James Gibson from Visit Florida