Roy A. McLendon Jr.’s artwork to be exhibited, with McLendon painting on-site
Big Waters Land Trust will welcome “a Florida Highwaymen heir, Roy A. McLendon Jr., for a special, one-day-only exhibition of his celebrated artwork” on Wednesday, May 6, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Bay Preserve, Big Waters’ headquarters, the nonprofit has announced.
Bay Preserve is located at 400 Palmetto Ave. in Osprey.
“We are truly delighted to welcome back Mr. McLendon to Bay Preserve,” said Christine P. Johnson, president of Big Waters Land Trust, in the release. “He captures the beauty of Florida’s landscapes — the places we work to protect,” she added. “Carrying on the Florida Highwaymen painting style helps introduce more people to our state’s cultural history and their enduring spirit. We are honored to host Mr. McLendon, the son of a Highwayman, for this special event,” Johnson said in the release.
From the early 1950s through the 1980s, 26 “African American artists, now known as the Florida Highwaymen, gained recognition for their vivid, expressive paintings of Florida’s natural landscapes,” the release explains. “Working during the Jim Crow era, when galleries and museums were largely inaccessible to them,” the release continues, “these artists sold their work directly from their cars along U.S. Highway 1. Today, their paintings are widely collected and celebrated for both their artistic and historical significance.”
The exhibition will feature Roy A. McLendon Jr.’s work, “which reflects both tradition and personal legacy,” the release points out. McLendon is scheduled to appear at Bay Preserve, the release notes, “painting live.”
Born on Oct. 7, 1955, in Bridgeton, N.J., McLendon was reared in Gifford, Florida, “where his artistic journey began at an early age,” the release continues. “Influenced by his father,” who is a Florida Artists Hall of Fame inductee, “and fellow Highwayman Harold Newton,” McLendon Jr. began painting when he was just 8 years old, the release says. By his teenage years, he was painting and selling works alongside Highwaymen artists, “becoming the only son of an original artist actively working within the movement during that time,” the release notes.
“Working primarily in oils, McLendon is known for his evocative depictions of Florida’s landscapes, including moonlit rivers, coastal scenes, and backcountry vistas inspired by childhood memories of life in the South,” the release says. “His work often incorporates elements of everyday life, from wildlife and citrus groves to figures fishing along the Treasure Coast, capturing both the beauty and spirit of old Florida,” it points out.
“Deeply committed to elevating Highwaymen art,” McLendon has remained dedicated to playing a role “in recognizing Highwaymen paintings as fine art,” the release says.
“Artwork will be available for purchase, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Big Waters Land Trust’s mission to protect the land and water for the benefit of people and nature,” the release notes. “Cash or check is preferred,” it says, with a 3% fee for processing credit card payments.
“Parking for the event will be available on-site,” the release says. “A complimentary valet service will run continuously between 4 and 7 p.m.
“This is a free, drop-in event; however, advance registration is encouraged,” the release points out. To learn more about the event and to register, visit bigwaterslandtrust.org/highwaymen26.
Additional event details will be shared with registered attendees in advance of May 6, the release says.
For more information about the Florida Highwaymen, visit floridahighwaymenpaintings.com.