Pioneering the Future

Featured Artists

James Gibson

James Gibson James Gibson is well known as one of the earliest Florida Highwaymen artists, literally selling paintings from the trunk of his car in the 1950’s. He reflects on the past when he was a member of this small group of African Americans who were dedicated to painting the Florida landscape, “We were young and competitive, painting was exhilarating. We would get together and paint for days, inspiring, motivating, and laughing at each other.”

Gibson began taking painting lessons at age 18, took a detour as a college student studying biology at Tennessee State University, and then returned to his first choice of becoming a working artist. He has since dedicated his work to the Florida landscape; painting the scenes he grew up with -- mangrove swamps and palms, bogs and sunsets -- all of the things that make Florida’s landscape unique. Gibson is now considered an accomplished artist and he helped to establish an art genre known as Florida’s Indian River School. Two of his paintings were featured in Steven Spielberg's movie Catch Me if You Can. He was featured in the 2003 Art for Living Calendar and was one of the Florida artists selected to do an ornament for the White House Christmas Tree in 2002.

In 2004 the Highwaymen were inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame. James Gibson was presented an Ambassador of the Arts Award in 2005 and the Arts Recognition Award in 2007, both for his outstanding commitment and generosity to the arts in Florida.

The raw beauty in James Gibson’s landscapes transcends academic barriers. His artwork is rooted in his memories, beauty of the backcountry, fondness for golden-orange sunsets, and the jazz of Florida’s full moon playing on the waterways.