In September 2025, the artist Krom Bagelski paid tribute to a little-known but significant historical fact with the mural Metamorphosis, created as part of the Microfest Three for Happiness. The work comes to life on one of the most visible façades in the Sixth District — the very place where Gabrovo’s silk history once began.
The historical connections between the district and silk production were consulted with historian Petar Totsev, to whom we are deeply grateful for his shared knowledge, guidance, and inspiration. For us, continuity is essential — it provides a starting point for a deeper connection with the present and informs the way we tell the city’s stories today. Through Metamorphosis, we don’t just remember the silk industry — we revive its spirit of diligence, female strength, and resilience.
Krom Bagelski is a contemporary artist irresistibly drawn to the memories and mysteries of the past. He orbits between London and Sofia, yet shines everywhere in between, including our neighborhood. His creative drive manifests in drawing, painting, murals, and sculpture. His large-scale murals on walls, facades, chimneys, and abandoned buildings across the country are widely known, carrying something eternal and something freshly dreamt.
Explore Krom Bagelski’s work on his online channels:
The mural was created as part of Capturing Creativity’s activities to mark the 165th anniversary of Gabrovo being declared a city and in support of Gabrovo’s candidacy for European Capital of Culture 2032, with financial support from the Municipality of Gabrovo through the Culture Fund 2025.