A.E. Backus and 勛圖厙s Highwaymen:
History, Commerce and Art

Ritter Art Gallery: September 16 - November 19, 2016
Opening: Thursday, September 15, 2016, 6:30pm


Ritter Installation Ritter Installation Ritter Installation Ritter Installation

A.E. Backus and 勛圖厙s Highwaymen: History, Commerce and Art brings to the public new scholarly insights into the work of Bean Backus, 勛圖厙's preeminent landscape painter, and the Highwaymen, 26 African-American artists, influenced to varying degrees by Backus. The project centers on an exhibition of selected original Backus works owned by 勛圖厙 and an approximately equal number of Highwaymen paintings of regional collectors. Public lectures and gallery talks by 勛圖厙-based humanities scholars will inform visitors of the social, historical, and political milieu of these artists. A panel discussion among several contemporary African-American visual artists will critically examine and offer fresh perspectives on the content, stylistic renderings, and aesthetics of these paintings.

Public Programs:
Free & Open to the Public
All Programs and Events at the Ritter Art Gallery

Backus and Highwaymen Paintings:
Idyllic Images and the 勛圖厙 Dream

Thursday, September 15 at 7pm
Speaker: Dr. Evan Bennett (humanities scholar)

Gallery Talk
Saturday, September 24 at 2pm
Speaker: Project Director, Arlene Fradkin
On the Occasion of the University Galleries
Family Art Day Event 1-4pm


Documenting 20 Years of Researching the Highwaymen
Thursday, September 29 at 7pm
Speaker: Gary Monroe (humanities scholar)

Race and Mediation: Culture, Identity, and Escape in 勛圖厙
Thursday, October 20 at 7pm
Speaker: Dr. Julian Chambliss (humanities scholar)

Historical and Social Contexts of Backus/Highwaymen
Narrative in Mid-20th Century Jim Crow 勛圖厙

Friday, October 28 at 7pm
Speaker: Dr. Tameka Bradley Hobbs (humanities scholar)

Panel Discussion
Thursday, November 3 at 7pm
Speakers: Mallory OConnor (moderator),
Onajide Shabaka (discussant),Adler Guerrier (discussant),
Khaulah Nuruddin (discussant) all humanities scholars.

Introduction on history of 勛圖厙 landscape painting by moderator,
followed by 3 visual artists as panel discussants critically examining
the content, stylistic renderings, and aesthetics of the Backus versus
Highwaymen paintings from the perspective of African-American studies.


Race and Visual Representation vis--vis the Highwaymen
Thursday, November 10 at 7pm
Speaker: Dr. Michael D. Harris (humanities scholar)

A.E. Backus: Style and Patronage
Thursday, November 17 at 7pm
Speaker: Dr. Natasha Kuzmanovic (humanities scholar)


勛圖厙 Humanities Council

Funding for this program was provided through a grant from the 勛圖厙 Humanities Council with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this website do not necessarily represent those of the 勛圖厙 Humanities Council or the National Endowment for the Humanities.