CORAL GABLES COLLECTS :
BEANIE BACKUS AND HIS IMPRINT IN SOUTH FLORIDA
THROUGH THE ALLEN MORRIS COLLECTION

This exhibition explores the artistic legacy of Albert Ernest (Beanie) Backus (Fort Pierce, FL, 1906–1990), celebrated for his vivid landscapes that capture Florida’s natural beauty. A largely self-taught artist, Backus produced luminous depictions of the state’s scenery—swamps, marshes, coastal inlets, and skies alive with color. He became a central figure in Florida’s mid‑20th‑century art scene and mentored many young Black artists, including members of the Highwaymen. In 1993 Backus was inducted by the Governor into the Florida Artist Hall of Fame.

Although widely associated with Fort Pierce and the Indian River School, Backus also lived in Coral Gables in the 1930s and early 1940s. During this period, he developed close ties with the local community and found inspiration in South Florida’s lush landscapes and Mediterranean Revival architecture. These influences helped shape a visual language in which Backus bridged urban refinement and natural wilderness.

The exhibition highlights Backus’s personal connection with his student, friend, and later collector, Mr. L. Allen Morris and W. Allen Morris. The selected works span several decades and reflect key themes present in the collection. A notable highlight is a body cast—worn once by Morris— where Backus painted and signed a Florida Landscape.

A series of related programs will complement and enrich the exhibition.

Beanie Backus… is the first installment of the series, Coral Gables Collects, which sheds light on the hidden treasures found in the city’s private and corporate collections. Each exhibition offers a rare glimpse into artifacts typically kept out of public view, revealing not only the passion and vision of local collectors but also the unique stories behind collecting and the relationships between collectors, objects, and makers—stories that help shape Coral Gables’ cultural identity.