Atanas Katchamakoff (January 18, 1898 – December 22, 1988) was a Bulgarian-American sculptor, woodcarver, and illustrator known for works that bridged his Bulgarian heritage and his artistic life in America.
[2] Katchamakoff's early career was marked by success in several artistic competitions, including first prizes at exhibitions in Vienna, Venice, and Rome.
These successes led to commissions for architectural sculptures in Germany, and a permanent gallery of his works was established in Sofia, Bulgaria.
[4][5] The desert landscape inspired him to simplify his sculptural forms, and he created works such as "Prayer" and "Indian Woman with Papoose," the latter of which won first prize in a national competition conducted by the Art Alliance of America.
Dobry tells the story of a Bulgarian boy whose artistic aspirations overcome daily struggles and his mother's apprehensions.