RIP Harold T Holden

 

National Ranching Heritage Center

December 7, 2023

 

Preeminent Western artist Harold “H” Holden passed away Dec. 6, 2023, at the age of 83.

The emeritus member of the Cowboy Artists of America was the sculptor behind “The Rancher” bronze statue that greets visitors to the National Ranching Heritage Center. “The Rancher” is also presented to the National Golden Spur recipient each year.

Harold Holden grew up in Enid, Oklahoma, in a creative family that counted inventors, engineers and horsemen among its members. As the first fine artist in his family, Holden’s subject matter has always been the West, but he is particularly known for his sculptures of horses.

Believing that an artist should know his subject matter, he raised and raced American Quarter Horses and stayed close to the cowboy and ranching way of life.

His work is included in collections of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, the Oklahoma State Capitol, the National Ranching Heritage Center, the Buffalo Bill Museum and the Oklahoma History Center. In addition, Holden was elected to the Cowboy Artists of America in 2012 and has completed 22 pieces of public art in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and Arkansas.

The Summer 2020 issue of Ranch Record featured the following article about the lifelong rancher, lover of horses, and artist.

HOLDEN, Harold T.

Born: 3/28/1940, Enid, Oklahoma, U.S.A.

Died: 12/6/2023, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.A.