pharoolva

Olva Stewart Pharo, specializes in portraits of horses, dogs, cats with an occasional person, in bronze or pencil. 

“I have never really known which came first: my love of art or my love of horses. From my earliest memory I was captivated by the beauty and grace of the horse. I was obsessed with horses and attempted to capture that beauty on paper and in sculpture.”

Olva has had hands on experience riding and showing horses in Western and English. She broadened her formal knowledge of art with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1969.

Today she no longer rides or shows horses but still spends her time around horses immortalizing your champions in bronze sculpture. Her intimate understanding of horses makes her in demand creating portrait heads, full body portraits as well as horse and rider portraits. 

“I find doing portraits is a challenge that I enjoy. There is nothing more rewarding than the wonderful look on a client’s face when you know you have captured the essence of their beloved horse (dog or cat).”

Olva has created unique equestrian trophies for the United States Dressage Federation and the United States Para-Equestrian Association. She believes in giving back to the horse community that she has been a part of for over 30 years.