Alexey Alexiev
Aleksey Alexiev was born in 1962 and is known as the wood carver who revives withered trees in Sofia's gardens and parks.
He created his first miniature wooden figure at the age of 4, with his grandfather's pocket knife. He learned on his own over time, with the persistence and dedication of a man who has found his calling.
After 4 unsuccessful attempts to be admitted to the Art Academy in Sofia, Alexey graduated as a chemical engineer. Until 1994, he worked at the Institute of Applied Mineralogy at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. When the institute was shut down, Alexey was among the hundreds of scientists left on the streets. After that, he found his path towards art again - as from 1994 to date, he has created more than 15 works in situ in Sofia from dried trees, which he transforms into sculptures of intertwined faces, images of people and animals, insects, birds, mystical creatures, breathing new life into them.
Today, the self-taught craftsman is entirely devoted to miniature and decorative wood carving, making sculptures and miniatures.