THE WORKS OF OKLAHOMA HALL OF FAMERS HAROLD T. "H" HOLDEN AND MIKE LARSEN
April 2017 edition of Oklahoma Hall of Fame Magazine.
Artists Harold T. "H" Holden and Mike Larsen received Oklahoma's highest honor, induction into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, in 2014 and 2015 respectively. Both are sculptors and painters. Both have battled life-threatening illnesses. The work of each has been featured on a stamp of the U.S. Postal Service. And, both have used their talents to celebrate and preserve our rich history and heritage.
In this special artist Q&A, two of Oklahoma’s most celebrated creators—Harold T. Holden and Mike Larsen—open up about the roots of their artistic journeys, the people who shaped their paths, and the lives they’ve built around their craft.
From childhood sketches in schoolbooks to decades of honing their skills through grit, repetition, and real-life cowboy experiences, both artists share honest reflections on what it means to pursue art as a calling. Holden speaks about his lifelong love of western life, the patience required to grow into the artist he dreamed of becoming, and the support of his wife, Edna Mae, who roped calves right alongside him. Larsen offers a look into a career shaped by family encouragement, a creative partnership with his wife Martha, and a studio life built on shared vision and steady dedication.
This Q&A offers an intimate, down-to-earth glimpse into the inspirations, ambitions, and lived experiences that fuel their work—inviting readers into the heart of two remarkable Oklahoma art stories.
