From the Porch to the Gallery: Southern Folk Art from the Collection of Ann and Ted Oliver

Our focus was to bring together a body of work that offers a unified view of Southern culture. This Collection reveals the values, memories, visions, and belief systems that distinguish the people and places of the South in the 20th and early 21st centuries. 

Over the course of more than twenty years, we traveled extensively throughout the region in search of contemporary Southern folk artists. This was never a passive pursuit. We often drove down gravel roads and through winding countryside, following directions that might end with “past the big tree after the fork in the road.” Along the way, we had the privilege of meeting the artists in their homes, often spending hours on their porches in conversation. 

We came to know each artist by name, learned about their lives and inspirations, and in many cases, photographed them alongside their work. These moments of connection—of listening and learning directly from the artists—are an essential part of the provenance of this Collection. Each piece is accompanied not only by the artist’s vision but also by the story of their life, their place, and their time. 

All of the artists represented here are self-taught, each creating with a voice uniquely their own. While certain themes recur, every work reflects the particular history, environment, community, and beliefs of its maker. Together, these works form a vivid and authentic record of Southern life—sometimes joyful, sometimes challenging, always deeply human. 

For us, collecting has been a labor of love, an act of persistence, and a devotion to preserving the voices of these artists. This Collection is not only a record of art but also of relationships, travels, and the enduring spirit of the South.”

– Ann and Ted Oliver 

Lot 2218
Sam Doyle

Through their work with the gallery, Ann and Ted accumulated an immense collection of Southern folk and self-taught art. Unlike many collectors, the Olivers did not rely on the services of a dealer or go-between; they sought out the artists themselves. They traveled extensively across the Southern United States and spent hours in conversation with the artists, listening to their stories, learning about their lives, and capturing photographs that preserve the moments of connection.

The first offering from this monumental collection will be set in our American & Southern | Session II auction on November 14, 2025. Around 70 lots of Southern folk and self-taught art will be brought to market. Highlights include a large Sam Doyle composition, a captivating Minnie Evans cut-out, and a Clementine Hunter once owned by Fashion Designer Rudi Gernreich. These, among numerous works by artists such as Jimmy Lee Sudduth, Mose Tolliver, Thornton Dial, Lonnie Holley, and countless others.