Mihail Simeonov

b. 1929 , Plovdiv, Bulgaria - d. 2021 , Pawtucket, RI

Mihail is an internationally recognized sculptor with work in major museums and private collections worldwide. He’s most notable for his life-size bronze elephant at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Mihail was born in Bulgaria. He studied philosophy and majored in sculpture at the Fine Art Academy of Sofia

For the following 10 years the artist completed notable bronze public and national sculpture commissions. In 1965 after a confrontation with the Communist government caused by their rejection of one of Mihail’s public monuments, Mihail went into exile.

From 1965 to 1971 the artist’s studio was in Tunisia, a place Mihail cherishes for its exuberant colors and old culture. While there he completed statues of President Bourguiba, monumental marble sculptures for the national monument in Bizerta along with sculptures for the city of Tunis.

In 1971 Mihail immigrated to the United States and embarked on his grand project  CAST THE SLEEPING ELEPHANT, the cast of an African wild bull elephant is a symbol of nature and a platform for ecological activism on behalf of all wildlife. Exhibitions of the project were held  in Kenya, Milan, Stockholm, Geneva, Zurich and New York. The elephant was cast in 1980 in the wilderness of Kenya without harm to the animal. The SLEEPING ELEPHANT bronze was installed at the United Nations headquarters in NYC. The project took 22 years to complete and provoked the world’s attention.

Mihail’s work comes in thematic series. such as SUNDAY MORNING, MINOTAUR, SKY-WALKER, WIRE-WIRE and BRONZE SCULPTURE are presented on this site.

Trumpeter

Dancing with Butterflies

Sky Walker Series: Sky Walker in Blue on Rose

Queen and Sky Walker

Sky Walker Series: Sky Walker in Sky Blue