Harold T. Holden
Legacy Artist of the West
BIO / H. HOLDEN
Harold T. Holden, or "H" was a Navy veteran and celebrated Western artist whose love of horses, history, and the cowboy way of life defined his work. His legacy lives on through the timeless paintings and monuments he left across the American West.
TIMELINE / WORK / HONORS
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H’s great-grandfather, George Failing, invented the machine that produces the bottle cap still used on beverages today. H was born into a family of inventors and engineers, including his grandfather, an oil pioneer who created the first portable drilling rig.
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Growing up in Enid, Oklahoma, H developed a love for horses, inspired by his father, an avid horseman. This early passion for Western life shaped his art.
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After graduating from Enid High School, H attended Oklahoma State University and the Texas Academy of Art in Houston. He began working in commercial art in Wichita, Kansas, and Houston, Texas, eventually becoming art director at Horseman Magazine. While working full-time, he painted and sculpted Western-themed art at night.
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H served a tour of duty in the Navy during the Vietnam War, gaining experiences that enriched his perspective and discipline.
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H committed to becoming a professional fine artist in 1973, focusing on painting and sculpting Western subjects. Early recognition came through commissions from the National Cattlemen’s Association (1982–1986), which helped collectors take notice of his work.
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H maintained his studio near Kremlin, Oklahoma, where he shared his life with his wife, Edna Mae, an attorney. He also welcomed visitors to his gallery in Enid, “Holden Art & Law,” offering a glimpse into his passion for Western art. H’s love of creativity lives on through his children—his son Tim, a fine artist and illustrator, and his daughter Shannon, an elementary school teacher caring for the next generation. Harold T. Holden passed away on December 6, 2023, leaving behind a profound legacy of art, family, and a life deeply connected to the spirit of the West.
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In 1987, H was chosen to sculpt commemorative bronzes depicting the 165-year history of the Cherokee Strip and completed his first monument, “Boomer,” in Enid, Oklahoma. Over his career, he completed more than 20 monuments across Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas.
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H’s commission work and collections included:
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, CO
Hughes Drilling Company
Oklahoma Centennial Commission
City of Oklahoma City – Will Rogers World Airport
Oklahoma History Center
University of Central Oklahoma
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma Baptist University
Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association
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H’s work was featured in prominent shows such as:
Prix de West at the National Cowboy Museum (OKC)
Masters of the American West at the Autry Museum (Los Angeles)
Cheyenne Frontier Days
Peppertree Ranch Art Show (Santa Ynez, CA)
Mountain Oyster Show (Tucson, AZ)
Haley Library Show (Midland, TX)
Gilcrease Miniature Show (Tulsa, OK)
C. M. Russell Show (Great Falls, MT)
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Western Horseman Magazine covers: August 1981 and April 1987
Featured in Western Horseman February 1996 Gallery
Cowboy Magazine covers: Summer 1996 and Winter 2006
Vernon Company Calendars: since 1995
Books: The Texas Cowboy and Contemporary Western Artists
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2000 – Lifetime member of the Mountain Oyster Club
2001 – Featured artist at Cattlemen’s Western Art Show (San Luis Obispo) and Gilcrease Rendezvous (Tulsa)
2002 – Best of Show and Director’s Trophy, Working Ranch Cowboy’s Association Ranch Rodeo
2004 – Professional Membership, National Sculpture Society; returning artist at Gilcrease Rendezvous Anniversary Show
2005 – Oklahoma State University Distinguished Alumni recognition
2007 – Juror and featured artist, Museum of Western Colorado Art Center
2014 – Inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame
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H’s largest painting, a 5×8-foot oil depicting Western Oklahoma, hangs in the Oklahoma State Capitol. He created highly detailed paintings and sculptures of horses and Western life, often participating in team roping and cowboy activities to stay true to his subjects.
