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House of Folk ArtJoin Matt Ledbetter, esteemed auctioneer and folk art connoisseur hailing from Gibsonville, North Carolina, as he unveils the rich tapestry of Southern Folk Art. Author: Matt Ledbetter
Join Matt Ledbetter, esteemed auctioneer and folk art connoisseur hailing from Gibsonville, North Carolina, as he unveils the rich tapestry of Southern Folk Art. With personal ties to numerous folk artists through his renowned quarterly auctions, Matt brings you on a journey through the intricate history, the profound motivations, and the intimate encounters that shape the world of folk art. Language: en Genres: Arts, History, Visual Arts Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Episode 50 | Rare 1990s Folk Art Footage from Tom Wells
Episode 50
Monday, 16 February, 2026
Before museums and collectors caught on, Tom Wells was documenting Southern folk artists on VHS in the early 1990s.In this episode, Matt Ledbetter sits down with the longtime dealer to revisit those tapes and reflect on discovering artists like Z.B. Armstrong and J.T. McCord.Tom explains how he first met these artists, how relationships developed, how work was sold, and what it looked like to build a market without the internet, price databases, or collector forums. Some of the footage captures artists actively working. The footage captures artists at work and preserves moments from an important era for folk art. CHAPTERS00:00 | Meeting Tom Wells in Thomson, Georgia01:39 | First encounter with Z.B. Armstrong08:24 | National exposure and Southern Magazine12:19 | Jake J.T. McCord on his front porch18:46 | Finding Ralph Griffin off a dirt road27:09 | Jimmy Lee Sudduth and painting with mud37:21 | Leonard Jones and painted tin42:21 | Discovering Willie Tarver46:45 | Meeting Richard RoebuckDo you know a folk artist or have a picking story worth sharing? Leave your name and where you are from and you might hear yourself on a future episode.houseoffolkart@gmail.com(919) 410 8002Follow @houseoffolkart for more stories, field trips, and upcoming auction dates at LedbetterAuctions.com.
