Public Art & Monumental Sculpture Q&A

Stiliana Alexieva is a British-Bulgarian contemporary artist whose practice spans monumental public sculpture, sculptural installations and seascapes on aluminium. She has exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition four times and internationally across Europe, the United States, Asia and the Middle East. Her work is held in private and corporate collections, including the Royal Family of Qatar, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and Formula 1 Headquarters. Her current public-art practice focuses on colourful, highly polished sculptural spheres designed for civic, architectural, hospitality and private environments.

About the artist

Stiliana Alexieva creates colourful monumental sculptures and site-specific sculptural installations for public and architectural spaces. Her Spheres of Joy are inspired by familiar childhood objects such as beach balls, marbles, candy and playground toys. Their simple forms, reflective surfaces and distinctive colour compositions are designed to create recognisable focal points within parks, plazas, waterfronts, hospitality destinations, property developments and private landscapes. Each commission can be adapted to the physical character, scale and intended use of its location.

Selected works

British-Bulgarian artist Stiliana Alexieva specialises in colourful monumental sculptural spheres for public, hospitality, corporate and private environments. Her Spheres of Joy use scale, colour and highly polished surfaces to transform familiar spherical forms into contemporary landmarks. The works can be developed individually or as groups and adapted to parks, plazas, waterfronts, cultural districts, developments, hotels and private estates. Suitability, dimensions, materials, engineering and installation requirements are assessed for each site.

Yes. Stiliana Alexieva accepts suitable international commissions from municipalities, developers, architects, hospitality groups, art consultants, cultural organisations, corporate clients and private collectors. A project can include concept development, colour and scale studies, site-specific visualisation, fabrication coordination, transport, installation planning and maintenance guidance. The exact scope depends on the location, commissioning requirements, available budget, programme and technical conditions.

The process normally begins with information about the site, commissioning objective, location, proposed scale, timeline and available budget. After reviewing the brief, Stiliana can develop an initial direction and, where appropriate, a visualisation showing the sculpture within the proposed environment. Once the concept, dimensions, materials and project scope are approved, fabrication, engineering coordination, transport and installation requirements can be planned. Public bodies may also require procurement documents, insurance, structural information, risk assessments and maintenance guidance.

How a commission works

Commissions may be developed for municipalities, public-art organisations, architects, landscape architects, property developers, hotels, resorts, cultural institutions, corporate clients, art consultants and private collectors. Suitable locations can include public squares, parks, waterfronts, mixed-use developments, hotel grounds, corporate headquarters, cultural districts and private landscapes. Every project is reviewed individually to ensure that the scale, material, visual impact and technical requirements are appropriate for the site.

The programme depends on the sculpture’s scale, design development, approvals, engineering, fabrication method, colour complexity, coating process, transport destination and installation requirements. Some existing fabrication processes may be completed within several weeks after final approval, but larger or technically complex public-art commissions can require substantially longer. A reliable schedule can only be prepared after the concept, location, dimensions, technical scope and approval process are understood.

The cost depends on scale, material, design complexity, engineering, fabrication, surface finish, structural support, transport, customs, foundations, access equipment, installation, insurance and maintenance requirements. For this reason, a fixed price cannot accurately represent every project. Commissioners should provide the site location, desired scale, installation target, project scope and indicative budget. Stiliana can then assess feasibility and prepare an appropriate preliminary proposal or quotation.

Not automatically. A quotation should state clearly whether it includes concept development, visualisation, fabrication, engineering, packaging, transport, customs, foundations, lifting equipment, installation, insurance and maintenance documentation. International and public-space projects often require several separate suppliers and site-specific costs. Defining these responsibilities at the beginning prevents omissions and allows the commissioner to compare proposals accurately.

Yes. Stiliana Alexieva can respond to suitable public-art RFQs, RFPs, open calls and invited commissions internationally, subject to eligibility, programme, budget and project requirements. Application materials may include a statement of interest, artist biography, curriculum vitae, portfolio, project examples, concept material, technical information, preliminary budget, schedule and professional references. Commissioners and project partners can request the relevant credentials and proposal information.

Request the proposal pack

Provide the project location, type of organisation, intended site, photographs or plans, approximate dimensions, preferred installation date, desired number of sculptures and indicative budget. It is also useful to explain what the artwork should achieve within the space and identify any architectural, landscape, planning, access or environmental constraints. This information allows Stiliana to assess whether the project is suitable and determine the appropriate next stage.

Use the enquiry form on stilianasculpture.com or contact the studio using the details provided on the website. Include the project location, intended site, approximate scale, timeline, budget range and any available photographs or plans. For an early-stage project, a concise brief is sufficient. Additional technical and visual information can be requested after the initial review.

Enquiry form

Yes. Colour combinations, band proportions, pattern direction and overall visual character can be developed in response to the site, architecture, landscape or commissioning brief. Clients can share preferred colours and references during the concept stage. Where exact colour control is required, recognised colour systems can be incorporated into the fabrication specification. Final colours may vary slightly according to material, coating, natural light, photographic reproduction and surrounding conditions, so physical samples may be required before production approval.

Monumental sculptural spheres can be developed in different diameters according to the site, budget, viewing distance and technical requirements. Existing website specifications indicate custom diameters from approximately one to three metres. Smaller or larger proposals should be assessed separately. The appropriate scale depends on the relationship between the artwork, surrounding architecture, landscape, pedestrian movement and intended viewing points. A site photograph, plan or dimensions can be used to prepare an initial scale visualisation.

Materials & technical specification

Yes. Spheres of Joy can be conceived as a single landmark or as a group distributed through a landscape or architectural site. Multiple pieces can use related or contrasting colour compositions and may be positioned as a formal arrangement or as separate discoveries across the grounds. The group should be planned using accurate site information so that scale, spacing, views, circulation, foundations and installation access can be assessed.

Yes. A preliminary visualisation can show the proposed sculpture within a photograph or digital representation of the site. This helps the client evaluate scale, placement, colour and the relationship between the artwork and its surroundings. Visualisations are concept-development tools rather than construction or engineering documents. Final dimensions, materials, colour samples, foundations and structural requirements must be approved separately before fabrication.

The process

The sculptures can be specified for indoor or outdoor use, subject to the requirements of the individual site. Existing works use high-gloss fibreglass-reinforced composite, concealed reinforcement, protective coating systems and anchoring solutions appropriate to the approved design. Outdoor suitability depends on scale, climate, wind exposure, public interaction, foundation conditions, coating specification and maintenance. Final material and structural requirements should therefore be confirmed for each commission rather than assumed from a standard model.

Materials & technical specification

Fibreglass-reinforced composite can be suitable for monumental sculpture because it enables smooth curved forms, relatively low weight and highly controlled surface finishes. Its performance depends on the quality of the laminate, internal reinforcement, coating system, fabrication method, installation and ongoing maintenance. It is not automatically suitable for every location. The material specification should respond to the artwork’s scale, climate, expected public interaction, fire requirements, structural loads and intended installation period.

A sculpture can be developed for a coastal or waterfront environment, but the site requires specific assessment. Salt air, humidity, ultraviolet exposure, temperature, wind loads, water proximity, foundation conditions and maintenance access can affect the specification. Coatings, concealed hardware, structural reinforcement and anchoring should be selected accordingly. Stiliana’s Florida waterfront commission provides relevant experience, but every new coastal site requires its own technical review and should not rely solely on a previous project specification.

Selected works

The anchoring method depends on the sculpture’s dimensions, weight, orientation, internal structure, wind exposure, surface conditions and public accessibility. Possible systems may include a concealed reinforced base, internal framework and connection to an engineered foundation or structural platform. The final solution must be developed for the actual site and coordinated with relevant fabricators, structural specialists, contractors and local requirements. A visualisation alone is not an engineering drawing and should not be used for construction.

The project scope can include coordination from concept and visualisation through fabrication, transport and installation planning. The exact responsibilities are agreed before production. Depending on the location, the project may involve specialist fabricators, structural engineers, coating professionals, freight providers, lifting contractors, foundation contractors and site representatives. Public and international projects may also require customs documentation, insurance, permits, risk assessments and method statements.

The process

Yes. Hotels and resorts can commission sculpture for entrances, gardens, courtyards, terraces, waterfront areas, arrival spaces and other suitable guest environments. The scale, palette and placement can respond to the property’s architecture, landscape and visual identity. Site conditions, guest circulation, maintenance, safety and photographic viewpoints should be considered during development. The objective is to create an artwork that belongs to the location rather than adding an unrelated decorative object.

Yes. Stiliana works with developers, architects, landscape architects and art consultants on sculpture for residential, commercial, hospitality and mixed-use developments. Early involvement allows the artwork’s scale, sightlines, foundations, lighting, access and installation route to be considered alongside the architectural and landscape design. Commissioners should provide drawings, plans, photographs, project programme, intended location and budget parameters to support an informed initial proposal.

How a commission works

The sculptural language can be suitable for airports, parks, plazas, waterfronts and other public environments, subject to project-specific assessment. These sites require consideration of pedestrian circulation, accessibility, security, public interaction, structural loads, maintenance, emergency access and local regulations. Airports and public authorities may also require specialised procurement, fire, safety, engineering and insurance documentation. Suitability must therefore be established through the formal commissioning process.

Yes. Private collectors can commission individual sculptures or groups of works for gardens, courtyards, estates, terraces and other appropriate spaces. The process can include visualisations using photographs of the property, allowing different placements, scales and colour directions to be reviewed before production. The final design, material, foundation, delivery route and installation method should be confirmed according to the property and local conditions.