Episode 59 | What Does a Real Folk Art Collector Collect?

Episode 59 | What Does a Real Folk Art Collector Collect?

Author: Matt Ledbetter June 22, 2026 Duration: 1:02:24

Matt and Sully are back at Ledbetter Auction Gallery in Gibsonville with a fresh stack from a 400-piece single-owner folk art collection that just came through the door.

The collection had already been unboxed and was waiting to be photographed, but Matt had not fully gone through it yet. So instead of picking their own favorites from around the gallery, Matt and Sully grab a random stack of about 40 pieces and start digging in with fresh eyes.

This episode is a look at what a real folk art collector collects: the known names, the lesser-known artists, the pieces that need more research, and the kind of work that only starts to make sense once you slow down and really look at it.

The stack starts with a carved Calvin Cooper dog, then moves into work by Po Phil, Levent Isik, Alpha Andrews, Kaye Simmons, Sam Ezell, Bob Newell, Richard Burnside, John Burgess, Myrtice West, Aretha Hardy, Albert Wagner, Purvis Young, Willie White, and more.

There are auction estimates, artist stories, a few mystery signatures, and plenty of moments where the guys have to admit they do not know everything yet. That is part of the point. This is what it looks like when a collection arrives, the research starts, and the pieces begin to tell you where they came from.

Do you know a folk artist or have a picking story worth sharing? Reach out to the show:

Chapters
00:00 | Welcome Back to House of Folk Art with Matt and Sully
02:42 | First Up: The Wood Carved Dalmatian
04:20 | Matt’s First Pick from the Stack
06:00 | Sully Learns About Levent Isik
07:40 | Mixed Media in a Frame
08:26 | Reminiscent of Bernice Sims
09:15 | Matt’s Favorite Piece So Far
10:07 | Sam Ezell Shows Up in the Art Pile
11:25 | Mail Pouch Chew
12:14 | Richard Burnside from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
14:04 | Key West Folk Art
16:26 | An Incredible Memory Painting of Quilt Making
18:04 | Myrtice West, Self-Taught Visionary Artist
20:43 | Gold Framed Folk Art?
22:15 | Animals & Angels
23:25 | Albert Wagner
26:08 | Folk Style, But…
26:55 | An Early Sam Ezell
27:42 | Purvis Young and Goodbread Alley
31:58 | Folk Art Framed in PVC Pipe
32:59 | A Series of Folk Paintings
34:08 | A.B. the Flag Man, Don’t Forget It
40:17 | Folk Art from a Coal Miner
42:59 | The Art of Willie White
46:20 | Alpha Andrews on Mixed Paper
48:19 | James Bland Folk Art Face
49:58 | Back to Myrtice West
51:47 | Grilling Is Pleasing
53:31 | Butch Anthony Face Pan
55:25 | Back to A.B. the Flag Man
57:52 | One More Time with Levent Isik
01:00:57 | A Good Day at the Auction Gallery

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Follow @houseoffolkart for more stories, field trips, and upcoming auction dates at LedbetterAuctions.com.


Matt Ledbetter lives in a world of vibrant paint, carved wood, and compelling stories. In House of Folk Art, this Gibsonville, North Carolina auctioneer and collector pulls up a chair to share that world, drawing directly from his deep connections within the Southern folk art community. His perspective is unique; because he organizes renowned quarterly auctions, Matt often knows the artists personally and has handled their work firsthand. This isn't a distant academic lecture. Instead, each episode feels like a conversation about the objects and the people who make them, exploring the intricate history behind the creations and the profound, often very personal, motivations that drive the artists. You’ll hear about intimate encounters and the small details that give this art its soul, from the choice of reclaimed materials to the narratives etched into the surface. Tuning into this podcast means getting a backstage pass to a living tradition, where every whirligig, portrait, or memory jug carries a fragment of cultural history. Matt’s guidance helps unravel the rich tapestry of this creative landscape, making the stories behind Southern folk art accessible and deeply engaging for anyone curious about the visual heritage of the region. The House of Folk Art podcast builds, piece by piece, a vivid understanding of why these works resonate so powerfully.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

House of Folk Art
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