Silpa Bhirasri Day in Thailand Date in the current year: September 15, 2024

Silpa Bhirasri wasn't a Thai. He was born in Italy as Corrado Feroci on September 15, 1892. In 1923 he was invited to Thailand to teach Western sculpture at the Ministry of Palace Affairs. Later he founded the University of Fine Arts, that is now known as Silpakorn University.

During World War II Feroci changed its name to disguise his Italian origin and thus avoid arrest by the occupying Japanese army. In his later years he married one of his Thai students.

Bhirasri was the designer of many monuments in Bangkok, including Victory Monument, Democracy Monument and the Statue of King Rama I at Memorial Bridge. He has made major contribution to development of the Thai fine arts, that is why he was awarded the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand posthumously. And his birthday became the day for observation of Silpa Bhirasri Day.