Harley Refsal

Harley Refsal (1944–2024) was an internationally recognized figure carver, specializing in Scandinavian flat-plane wood carving.

Raised in Minnesota, he lived in Norway in the 1960s and 1980s, and traveled extensively throughout Scandinavia. Refsal, who spoke fluent Norwegian, shared his knowledge of and skills in Scandinavian carving with thousands of carvers through courses and presentations in North America and Scandinavia and has appeared as guest woodcarver on the Prairie Home Companion. After retiring from teaching at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa in 2010, he was a Professor Emeritus of Scandinavian Folk Art.