Florida Highwaymen Obelisk 2009
Located Fort Pierce , Florida. Fabricated by Mosaika Art and Design.
In the late 1950’s a group of African American artists began to skillfully capture the serene landscapes of their time. The artists painted under shaded backyard trees to escape picking oranges during the Jim Crow segregation era. They traveled Florida’s highways selling their paintings from their cars for $25 each. They came to be known as the “FLORIDA HIGHWAYMEN” The 19’ high obelisk is embellished with hand-glazed ceramic mosaic tile interpreting selections of paintings by the Highwaymen. The images are arranged in a rainbow flowing from top to bottom in red, green, blue, to orange. The imagery for the bottom portion of the obelisk is done in hand-carved ceramic tile in the style of woodcuts.
Located Fort Pierce , Florida. Fabricated by Mosaika Art and Design.
In the late 1950’s a group of African American artists began to skillfully capture the serene landscapes of their time. The artists painted under shaded backyard trees to escape picking oranges during the Jim Crow segregation era. They traveled Florida’s highways selling their paintings from their cars for $25 each. They came to be known as the “FLORIDA HIGHWAYMEN” The 19’ high obelisk is embellished with hand-glazed ceramic mosaic tile interpreting selections of paintings by the Highwaymen. The images are arranged in a rainbow flowing from top to bottom in red, green, blue, to orange. The imagery for the bottom portion of the obelisk is done in hand-carved ceramic tile in the style of woodcuts.
Close up of Obelisk
Obelisk detail
showing the old Highwaymen car from which they sold their paintings.
Hand carved ceramics 28”w x 40”h
showing the old Highwaymen car from which they sold their paintings.
Hand carved ceramics 28”w x 40”h
Obelisk detail
Top of the obelisk with a detail
of the royal poinciana tree.
The obelisk is adorned with a ‘hat’
covered in silver metallic bronze tile,
which glistens in the sunlight
and denotes inspiration.
Top of the obelisk with a detail
of the royal poinciana tree.
The obelisk is adorned with a ‘hat’
covered in silver metallic bronze tile,
which glistens in the sunlight
and denotes inspiration.
Obelisk detail
hand glazed ceramic tile mosaic
hand glazed ceramic tile mosaic
Obelisk detail
A Highwayman Artist at work
Hand carved ceramics 28”w x 40”h
A Highwayman Artist at work
Hand carved ceramics 28”w x 40”h