Matt sits down with his father Wade Ledbetter, a legendary picker from the pre-internet era when auction houses, road trips, and word-of-mouth made the market move. Wade shares stories from the golden age of picking, from rough hotel rooms and shotgun nights to the packed Mebane auction scene where the right find could change everything.

The episode traces Wade’s path from insurance salesman to full-time picker, with stories of major discoveries, missed money, picking partnerships, and the pressure to sell the best pieces in order to keep going.

Then Matt turns the episode into a Liberty Antique Festival prep class, walking Sully through salt glaze pottery basics, Piedmont forms, dramatic drips, potter signatures, and why knowing the difference between the right names can save you from buying junk.

Matt and Sully take the folk art conversation overseas as Sully shares finds from Poland and Denmark, including a mysterious pottery piece and a five-dollar painting picked up in Copenhagen. From there, the episode moves back home into the history and economics of American pottery.

Matt breaks down how glass factories changed the pottery business, why makers shifted from everyday utilitarian pieces to decorative work, and how figures like Burlon Craig and the Reinhart family fit into the North Carolina pottery timeline.

From ancient face jugs and Polish religious carvings to Nova Scotia folk artists and regional picking hotspots, this episode follows one big idea: folk art is not just American. It is human.

Matt opens the doors to the official House of Folk Art gallery, a rotating room inside his Gibsonville home filled with Benny Carter cityscapes, eyeball jugs, salt-glaze pottery, walking sticks, and the kind of authentic folk art you can actually live with.

This episode is a beginner-friendly lesson in building a real collection over time. Matt breaks down the upgrade system, why knowledge matters more than impulse, how fake Bill Traylors and Purvis Youngs show up online, and why a $60 jug can be the first step toward a serious collection.

From reference books and pottery lessons to pickup-hour rants, Civil War swords, and stories from Matt’s picking life, this one is all about collecting with passion, parameters, and a good eye.

Matt and Sully start with a quick Dale Sr. and Dale Jr. NASCAR nod before turning the table back to folk art. This episode moves from Eden, North Carolina artists Carrie Graves and Ellen Martin to Benny Carter’s obsessive city scenes, then into the market lessons hiding inside bottle-cap snakes, damaged baskets, and anonymous wood carvings.

Along the way, they break down what makes a piece climb from yard-sale money to serious auction heat, why condition can make or break a payday, and how the right setting can completely change what folk art is worth.

Matt Ledbetter and Sully leave the gallery table behind for a crash course in the real-life math, instinct, and nerve behind picking. From dusty license plates and boxed Lionel trains to $10 paintings that turn into five-figure scores, this episode unpacks the difference between a lucky flea-market find and a life-changing haul.

Along the way, they talk silver ratios, sleeper categories, road-cash rituals, polite door knocks, and the ethics of flipping when the seller doesn’t know what they have. It’s part road-trip story, part market lesson, and part gut check for anyone who has ever wondered what makes an object worth chasing.

Keep riding shotgun with House of Folk Art as the hunt moves from back roads and motel auctions to the next unexpected score.

In this episode of House of Folk Art, Matt and Sully take on a gallery challenge: each pick five standout folk art pieces and break down what makes them special. From Southern stoneware and outsider carvings to contemporary face jugs and visionary paintings, the duo shares insights into condition, story, provenance, and value, offering tips for both new and seasoned collectors. With work from icons like Billy Ray Hussey, Howard Finster, Mary Proctor, and Benny Carter, this episode is a deep dive into how to evaluate, collect, and appreciate folk art in all its forms.

Join Matt and Kyle at the Folk Art Auction House in Gibsonville as they unpack a spring haul of Southern folk art, pottery, and vintage treasures in this episode of House of Folk Art. From a $70 jug now valued at over $1,200 to the rare story of a Chester Webster bird jug, this episode is packed with collector insights, picking lessons, and regional art history. Whether you're a seasoned auction-goer or new to the world of folk art, it's a crash course in how to spot value, avoid costly mistakes, and understand what makes Southern pottery so special.

In this episode of House of Folk Art, Matt Ledbetter is joined by Kyle and Sully for an impromptu van-side tour of their Fishersville Antique Expo finds. From dating an 1860 Piedmont salt‐glazed jug and gifting Sully his first walking stick to Kyle’s on-camera $400 pie safe purchase, they unpack everything that makes Americana folk art sing, jugs, baskets, painted walking sticks, and the honor of passing wisdom down to the next generation.

In this episode of House of Folk Art, Matt Ledbetter is joined by Kyle and Sully for a collector’s deep dive into handmade baskets and Southern folk pottery. From identifying hand-drawn splints to unveiling a museum-quality miniature, Matt shares the tools and stories that separate good from great. The conversation then shifts to rare pottery, Marvin Bailey’s face jug sculptures, Lanier Meaders’ rock teeth, and a wild Medusa lion jug by Billy Ray Hussey.

Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just curious about the craft, this episode explores how history, utility, and story come together in the hands of true folk artists.

Wade Ledbetter returns to share his wildest antique picking stories—from three Stanley Steamers left behind in a barn to a sugar chest pulled out of a Virginia doctor’s attic. In this episode, Wade reflects on the deals he missed, the treasures he found, and how he transitioned from picker to folk artist. With his son Matt behind the mic and Kyle joining in to talk Benny Carter, this one’s full of grit, humor, and heart.

Step inside the Catawba Valley Pottery Festival with Matt Ledbetter and the House of Folk Art crew as they capture the energy, artistry, and tradition that define one of the South’s most important folk pottery events. Recorded live from Hickory, North Carolina, this episode features interviews with master potters Steve Abee, Stacy Lambert, and Michael Gates, as well as collectors and historians La Ryan and Dr. Allen Huffman.

Hear firsthand stories about digging clay by hand, firing in wood-burning kilns, the legacy of the Reinhardt family, how folk pottery has influenced modern collecting, and why handmade art continues to thrive in today's world. Whether you're passionate about face jugs, Catawba Valley alkaline glazes, or Southern folk traditions, this episode is a rare look behind the scenes of the people keeping these practices alive.

Perfect for fans of folk art, Southern culture, pottery collecting, traditional craft, and American heritage.

🎙 Topics covered:
• Catawba Valley Pottery history
• Southern folk art traditions
• Face jugs and alkaline glazes
• Collecting and preserving pottery
• Stories of Howard Smith and Berlin Craig
• Passing folk traditions to new generations

🎧 Listen now and experience the magic of handmade art, community, and storytelling at the Catawba Valley Pottery Festival.

Cher Shaffer: Visionary Folk Artist & The Day the Mountains Cried

Cher Shaffer is a self-taught folk artist with over 55 years of experience, blending Cherokee and Melungeon heritage into her visionary paintings, pit-fired pottery, and sculptural dolls. In this episode of House of Folk Art, she discusses her creative journey, from overcoming commercial art world pushback to unveiling her latest series, The Day the Mountains Cried—a powerful collection documenting the impact of Hurricane Helene on North Carolina’s mountain communities.

Explore Cher’s intuitive painting process, her experience with visionary art, and why folk art is more than just decoration—it’s a historical record of resilience and storytelling.

Cher Shaffer is a self-taught folk artist whose work spans over five decades, blending Cherokee and Melungeon heritage with Southern folk traditions, visionary painting, and pit-fired pottery. In this episode of House of Folk Art, host Matt Ledbetter dives into Cher’s journey—from shaping clay as a child in rural Georgia to becoming a nationally recognized folk artist.

Discover how a near-death experience in 1985 transformed her artistic style, why she draws inspiration from African American face jugs and Pueblo pottery, and how she follows the urge to create with intuitive, free-flowing expression.

🔹 Learn about Cher’s unique artistic process
🔹 Explore the cultural traditions behind her work
🔹 Find out where to collect her paintings, dolls, and pottery

Read the full profile and listen to the episode now!

Join House of Folk Art host Matt Ledbetter and his wife, Jennie Ledbetter, as they recount their first experience at the Catawba Valley Pottery Festival in Hickory, NC. Learn how they navigated the event, met top folk potters like Stacey Lambert and Marvin Bailey, and discovered the best ways to collect and invest in folk pottery. This year, House of Folk Art will have its own booth, featuring live podcast interviews with potters. Get insider tips on attending the festival, what to look for, and why this event is a must for folk art enthusiasts. Subscribe now and be part of the experience.

For a true picker, the best finds aren’t at flea markets or antique malls—they’re hidden in barns, attics, and forgotten sheds, waiting to be uncovered by someone with the right eye. In this episode of House of Folk Art, Matt Ledbetter sits down with his father, Wade Ledbetter, to talk about a lifetime of picking. From knocking on doors in rural towns to uncovering a forgotten folk artist’s legacy, Wade shares the highs, the heartbreaks, and the near-misses of antique hunting.

Whether you’re an experienced collector or just love a good story, this episode is packed with wisdom on finding treasures where no one else is looking.

In this episode of House of Folk Art, host Matt Ledbetter sits down with longtime collector Brian Sieveking to explore the fascinating world of outsider and folk art. With over 40 years of experience, Brian shares how he stumbled upon his first face jug at a flea market, traded a carton of cigarettes for it, and unknowingly started a lifelong passion.

Matt and Brian break down how new collectors can get started, from attending live auctions and folk art festivals to navigating the world of self-taught artists. They discuss the growing value of outsider art, why now is the time to invest, and how museums are just beginning to catch up. Plus, they tackle common myths about the art world, explain how to spot authentic pieces, and share expert tips on where to find the best folk art shows.

Whether you're a seasoned collector or just curious about the world of outsider art, this episode offers invaluable insights, stories, and practical advice to help you build your own collection.

In this episode of House of Folk Art, Matt Ledbetter sits down with longtime folk art collector and arts professor Brian Sieveking to dive into the world of outsider art. From historic auctions to legendary road trips with Howard Finster, Brian shares stories of rare finds, missed opportunities, and the thrill of collecting. They explore the rise and fall of Folk Fest, the scarcity of Sam Doyle’s work, and the forgotten legacy of Cedar Creek Charlie. Whether you're a seasoned collector or new to the world of self-taught art, this episode offers a fascinating look at the people and pieces that shape the folk art market.

Join Matt Ledbetter and Kyle in this lively episode of House of Folk Art as they explore the quirky and colorful world of folk art. From trading pottery for taxidermy and brainstorming a drive-thru folk art museum to hilarious pranks and reflections on 17 years in the industry, this episode is packed with laughter, inspiration, and unique insights. Perfect for folk art enthusiasts, collectors, and creatives alike!

In this episode of House of Folk Art, Matt Ledbetter sits down with fellow auctioneer Ted Muscarelli to discuss the fascinating world of folk art collecting. Ted, known for his expertise in the auction world, shares the story behind his own extensive collection, which he has meticulously curated over the years. Together, Matt and Ted dive deep into the thrill of discovering unique pieces and the joy of selling artwork that can explode in value at auction. From iconic pottery to handcrafted baskets, they discuss the artistry behind these objects and the process of curating a collection that not only tells a story but also holds great market value. What starts as a casual conversation between two seasoned auctioneers quickly turns into an insightful exploration of the world of folk art, with plenty of personal stories and expert tips along the way.

In this episode of House of Folk Art, Matt Ledbetter and Kyle Sheetz discuss Kyle’s recent trip to the Smithsonian American Art Museum, where he explored the museum’s folk art collection. They dive into the significance of self-taught artists like James Hampton and Sam Doyle, whose works are showcased at such a prestigious institution. The conversation touches on the importance of recognizing folk art as an integral part of American history, with Matt offering insights on how museums help elevate these artists and their contributions. They also explore the role of museums, auctions, and personal connections in the growing appreciation for folk art.