Coral Gables Collects: Beanie Backus and His Imprint in South Florida Through the Allen Morris Collection

The Coral Gables Museum presents “Coral Gables Collects: Beanie Backus and His Imprint in South Florida Through the Allen Morris Collection,” on view from March 11 through May 24, 2026, in Gallery 109 and the Anthony R. Abraham Family Gallery.

The exhibition focuses on the work and influence of Florida artist Albert Ernest “Beanie” Backus (1906–1990), known for his paintings of Florida’s swamps, waterways, and wide landscapes. Though largely self taught, Backus became an important figure in Florida’s mid twentieth century art scene and later served as a mentor to several young Black artists who would become known as the Florida Highwaymen.

Part of the museum’s Coral Gables Collects series, the exhibition highlights works from the collection of W. Allen Morris. Morris studied with Backus and maintained a family relationship with the artist for many years. The collection began with Morris’s father, L. Allen Morris, and was later expanded by Morris Jr.

Among the works included is a unique body cast worn by Morris after a plane accident that Backus later painted and signed with a Florida landscape. The exhibition spans several decades of Backus’s work and includes his well known Florida scenes, religious imagery, and paintings inspired by Oracabessa, Jamaica, where the artist spent extended periods capturing the island’s landscapes and local life.

Members: Free
Adults: $15
Students/Seniors: $10
Children (7-12): $8
Children ≤ 6: Free
Military: Free