The Museum houses the nation's largest public presentation of artwork by Florida's pre-eminent painter, A.E. "Bean" Backus (1906-1990).
Albert Ernest Backus (1906-1990) was a largely self-taught artist from Fort Pierce, who created iconic images of the timeless beauty of the Florida landscape. Whether in the glades, the beaches, the rivers, the savannas, or the back country, his paintings capture a unique sense of place that is instantly recognizable and beloved. Praised and renowned as an exceptional artist in the regionalist tradition, he was also a mentor and advocate for countless people in his lifetime, and is remembered today both for his artistic accomplishments, his altruistic spirit, and in sharing the arts with his community.
It also is the home of the state's only permanent multi-media exhibition on the Florida Highwaymen, who are among the many artists and individuals that are a part of Backus' legacy. In 2004, the State of Florida inducted 26 African Americans, including one woman, into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame as the Original Highwaymen. They made their careers by depicting the richness and variety of Florida’s landscapes.
Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website