John Julius Wilnoty (April 10, 1940 – June 7, 2016) was a renowned self-taught sculptor of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Wilnoty carved from wood, bone, and mainly steatite (soapstone). Wilnoty's carvings portray figures from Cherokee oral history. His work has been displayed in many exhibitions; and some works are in the Smithsonian collection. His sons (Fred Wilnoty and the late John Wilnoty Jr.) and grandson (Fred Wilnoty Jr.) also established themselves as carvers.
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