Charlie Frye is a self-trained folk artist and owner of the Folk Keeper Gallery and Antiques. Using primarily acrylics, he prefers painting on found objects to traditional canvases. You will see his work comprised of wild strokes and bold colors on barnwood, crates, pots and pans, in addition to other non-traditional supports.

Owls are a staple in his work, as is the local people and scenery of rural Appalachia. This comes as no surprise as his family has been in Lenoir, North Carolina for more than 100 years.

Frye looks to his surroundings for subjects for his art. “I just look at the world around me as my inspiration,” he said.

“I mainly paint from memories and my imagination. It’s what I do every day. I get to paint the visions in my head all the time. I’m a lucky man.”

Frye shows his work all over the East Coast, participating in show such as the Fearrington Village Folk Art Show (NC), Finster Fest (GA), and the Kentuck Festival of Arts (AL).