Vasil Rakaj was born in Boga, Albania in 1954. He attended the prestigious Academy of Fine Arts and studied under Toma Thomaj-Dahmo who taught him how to sculpt in a wide range of mediums from terra-cotta clay to w Wood, stone and metal using various techniques. Vasil was commissioned to sculpt a six foot tall, bronze statue of St. Mother Teresa in 1996. He came to United States in 1998 for the celebration and dedication of four installations of that same piece. He is an international talent whose works have appeared in The White House, Buckingham Place, The United Nations and The Vatican. Vasil currently resides with his family in Ansonia, Connecticut and is an active member of the Valley Arts Council. Vasil continues to sculpt his inspirational works, ranging from small table-top forms and reliefs to magnificent life-size cast bronze monuments.