The latest exhibition at the Tampa Bay History Center, "Against All Odds: The Art of the Highwaymen," on display through August 17, tells a story of art, struggle and triumph.
When white-owned art galleries refused to show African-American art in the 1950s, artists took to Florida’s highways, selling paintings to tourists.
"Most African-Americans at the time were day laborers…maybe some artisans, a few professional positions. but hardly any tried to make a living as artists, and so they did that, and they succeeded," said Rodney Kite-Powell, Saunders Foundation Curator of History at the Tampa Bay History Center.
In the 1990s their popularity surged, along with their story. Thirty-one pieces are currently on display. They include works by the two original Highwaymen Alfred Hair and Harold Newton, who passed their training onto others and also taught them how to paint quickly.
“Because African Americans weren't commanding big prices for their art work, so they couldn't sell one piece of art for $500, they would have to sell 100 pieces of art for $5,and so the only way to do that is volume," said Kite-Powell.
It's estimated that in 20 years, the Highwaymen created 200,000 paintings. It's unknown how many survive, but each is a testament to artistic triumph-- against all odds.
Of the 26 Highwaymen, there was one woman, Mary Ann Caroll. Her work is also on display in the exhibition.