Although he is busy with monumental sculpture projects and dealing with some health issues, Holden, 80, of Kremlin, said he also plans to make the trek to OKC to see the Prix de West in person. The Enid native has already made another Prix de West memory, winning this year’s James Earle Fraser Sculpture Award for his bronze “Strike Lightning,” depicting a cowboy trying to stay astride his spooked horse.

“Some of them come up from instances that have happened to me or I’ve seen. If you have a horse and a guy in a wreck, it probably happened,” he said of his artwork.

Along with exhibiting in the Prix de West since 1995, Holden has other connections to the museum: He created its sculpture of former The Oklahoman owner E.L. Gaylord, created “The Wrangler” award given at its Western Heritage Awards and in 2017 became the first Oklahoma artist inducted into the museum’s Hall of Great Westerners.

“I used to go down there when I was young, just to look at the art. The best of the best were there. I’m not one of the big shots; I’m just glad to be there,” Holden said.

ON VIEW

48th Annual Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition & Sale

When: Through Sept. 13.

Where: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63.