Carl Thorwald Laugesen (1900 - 1987), was a poster designer and commercial artist, war artist, painter, specialising in Maori women and their moko. He was born in Marton, and after some years of farm work, bush felling and sheepshearing in New Zealand and Australia, he trained at the Canterbury School of Fine Art, and taught at Wellington Technical College of Art for eight years before becoming a fulltime artist.
He served for 18 years on the council of the new Zealand Academy of FIne Arts, and on the committee of the Wellington Art Club. He was also chirman of the Wellington Sketch Club in the late 1930s.