Bill Traylor, one of the classic Art Brut artists of the United States, was active for only a few years (circa 1939-1942), but he is now internationally recognized for his more than 1,200 drawings on cardboard that he created on the sidewalks of Montgomery.

Born into slavery in 1854, Traylor remained on the plantation where he had been raised to work and raise his own family in 1928. Forced to leave his job in a shoe factory due to a disability, he found himself homeless but obtained shelter at night in the shops of the city's African American neighborhood on Monroe Street. His work was collected and championed by local artist Charles Shannon, who recognized Traylor's genius. Shannon had the foresight to preserve Traylor's work until its reintroduction into the art world in the late 1970s. Traylor drew scenes of everyday life, both rural and urban. Ranging from simple portraits of residents of Monroe Street to complex compositions.