| Biography |
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HAROLD T. HOLDEN, or "H" as he is called by many, was born in Enid, Oklahoma. Although "H" was the first professional fine artist in the family, he comes from a family of creative and talented inventors and engineers. In 1915, his great-grandfather George Failing invented the machine that creates the bottle cap that is still used on beverages today. His grandfather, oil pioneer George E. Failing, invented the first portable drilling rig, as well as numerous drilling bits, still used in the industry. "H" credits his love of horses to his father who was an avid horseman.
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| After graduating from Enid High School, "H" attended
Oklahoma State University and graduated from the Texas Academy of Art
in Houston. He then began his art career in the commercial art field,
working in Wichita, Kansas and in Houston, Texas, where he eventually took
the position of art director at Horseman Magazine. While working during
the day for other folks, "H" began his fine art career at night, painting
and sculpting his first love, the West. |
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| After a tour of duty with the Navy in Vietnam, "H" ventured out on his own in 1973, to try and make it as a professional
fine artist. Commissions from the National Cattlemen’s Association
from
1982-1986 helped and collectors began taking notice of his work. |
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| "H" was a member of the Texas Cowboy Artists Association
(TCA) and the National Western Artists Association and received
numerous gold medals in both organizations for his paintings and sculptures.
He is known for his attention to detail, and particularly his sculptures
of horses. Believing that an artist should know his subject matter,
"H" spends much of his leisure time team roping and staying close to
the cowboy way of life. |
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In 1987 “H” was chosen to sculpt a series of commemorative bronzes to
depict the 165 year history of the Cherokee Strip in Oklahoma and Kansas.
That same year he completed his first of many monuments, “Boomer” for the
City of Enid, Oklahoma. Since that date H has completed or is working on
19 additional monuments for placement in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. (See
Monuments).
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H. working on "Holding the Claim" (Photo by Herman Kokojan) |
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His work has been reproduced on the August 1981 and April 1987 covers
of Western Horseman Magazine, and in it's February 1996 Gallery.
Cowboy magazine featured H’s work on their Summer 1996 and Winter 2006
covers. His work is in the book “The Texas
Cowboy”, published by TCU Press as well as in the book “Contemporary
Western Artists”. H’s images have been featured on the Vernon Company
Calendars since 1995. Various articles have appeared about his work in
Art of the West, Southwest Art and Persimmon Hill magazines. |
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"H's" work is included in the museum collections
of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City,
the Oklahoma State Capitol, the Ranching Heritage Museum in Lubbock,
Texas, the Whitney Gallery at the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, Wyoming,
the Elizabeth Dunnegan Gallery of Fine Art in Bolivar, Missouri, the
Museum of the Cherokee Strip in Enid, Oklahoma and the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City. |
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"H" received the lifetime achievement award from the Oklahoma Sculpture Society and also was inducted into the Mountain Oyster Club as a lifetime member in 2000.
In 2001 H received the Oklahoma Governor's Art Award from Governor Frank Keating.
In 2005 he was honored with the Oklahoma State University's Distinguished Alumni recognition. (Photograph courtesy Genesse Photography) |
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H's largest painting to date is a 5 foot by 8 foot oil painting of western Oklahoma which hangs in the Oklahoma State Capitol. |
| "H" was the featured artist at the Cattlemen's
Western Art Show and sale at San Luis Obispo in April 2001 and also one
of 2 sculptors featured at the Gilcrease Rendezvous in Tulsa in April
2001. He received Best of Show and the Director's Trophy at the
Working Ranch Cowboy's Association Ranch Rodeo in Amarillo, Texas in 2002
and was one of the returning artists at the Gilcrease Rendezvous
Anniversary Show in 2004. In 2004 he was elected into Professional Membership in
the National Sculpture Society.
In 2007, H was the juror and featured artist at the Museum of Western
Colorado Art Center in Grand Junction, Colorado. |
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H’s commission work and collections include:
National Bank of Commerce United States Postal Service Oklahoma Arts Council National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Oklahoma State University American Quarter Horse Association National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Ranching Heritage Center Ward Petroleum Company Johnston Grain Company Archer-Daniels Midland Company City of Owasso Air Force Association Keystone Resort – Keystone Colorado Hughes Drilling Company Oklahoma Centennial Commission City of OKC – Will Rogers World Airport Oklahoma History Center University of Central Oklahoma Northwestern Oklahoma State University Oklahoma Baptist University Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association
Representative shows include:
Prix de West at the National Cowboy Museum in OKC Masters of the American West at the Autry Museum in L. A. Cheyenne Frontier Days Peppertree Ranch Art Show in Santa Ynez, Ca. Mountain Oyster show in Tucson, AZ. Haley Library show in Midland, Tx. Gilcrease Miniature show in Tulsa, OK. C. M Russell show in Great Falls, MT.
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H’s studio is near Kremlin, OK., where he lives
with his wife Edna Mae who is an attorney. He has a gallery in Enid,
Oklahoma “Holden Art & Law” which is open by appointment or by chance. His
son Tim is a fine artist and illustrator (www.timholden.org)
and daughter Shannon is an elementary school teacher who is on sabbatical
raising the grandkids. |
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| For information on H’s work or commissions, please contact: |
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Edna Mae Holden P. O. Box 3833 Enid, OK. 73702 580-233-6300 gallery/office 580-233-6306 fax 580-874-2360 home/studio |
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Original drawing by Carrie Ballantyne
