Charles “Charlie” Kinney (1906 - 1991)

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Born in 1906, Charley Kinney was the definition of “Mountain Man”. Charley and his brother Noah were raised in Lewis County Kentucky, Toller Hollow to be exact. The two brothers found inspiration for their art in the woods and animals surrounding them.   The earliest known works by Charley are from the mid 1970s. He painted farm life, animals, folklore (he was famous for “Haints”) and religion. He also made intruiging puppets that were made to dance by means of a foot pedal as he played the fiddle. Both Noah and Charley passed away in 1991. They were definitely the last of their kind, and with their passing a whole way of life exited. They lived their entire life with virtually no contact with the modern world.