Albert E. Backus
(1906-1990)

Died aged c. 84

Albert E. "Bean" Backus was born in 1906 in Fort Pierce. Backus was a self-taught artist, beginning his career by painting posters for the Sunrise Theatre in downtown Fort Pierce, then painting landscapes of Florida’s backwoods. After he was assigned to the South Pacific in World War II, his work depicted more tropical subjects. His paintings from the 1930s to the 1950s are characterized by heavy use of the palette knife, and his use of sweeping gestures to bring a sense of vigor to his storm paintings. Backus came to national prominence when his work was hung in President Lyndon Johnson’s library in Texas and in Johnson’s Senate offices in Washington, D.C. Backus donated paintings to many charities and helped finance the education of art students. He also supported the so-called "Highwayman" artists and served as mentor to one such painter who achieved considerable success. Backus died in 1990.

OpenPlaques

Albert Ernest "A. E." Backus (January 3, 1906 – June 6, 1990), also known as Beanie Backus, was an American artist famous for his vivid Florida landscapes.

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