In a north London hospital, scientists are growing noses, ears and blood vessels in the laboratory in a bold attempt to make body parts using stem cells. It is among several labs around the world, including in the U.S., that are working on the futuristic idea of growing custom-made organs in the lab. (Photo by Matt Dunham/AP Photo)

American sculptor Michael Alfano has been sculpting for over fifteen years. A native of New York, he now lives and works in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. His major influences are Salvador Dali, Jo Davidson, and Jean-Antoine Houdon, as well as Buddhist, Taoist, Sufi and other eastern philosophy and literature. He first studied at the Art Students League of New York, with an emphasis on life-size sculpture from the model. His formal education continued at Boston University and was augmented by internships with several prominent sculptors.

A doorman stands at the entrance of the “The Walled Off Hotel” in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Friday, March 3, 2017. The owner of a guest house packed with the elusive artist Banksy's work has opened the doors of his West Bank establishments to media, showcasing its unique “worst view in the world”. The hotel, several of whose rooms look onto an Israeli security watchtower, is awash in the trademark satirical work of the mysterious artist. (Photo by Dusan Vranic/AP Photo)

Revellers paint faces at Worthy Farm in Somerset for the Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts on Worthy Farm near the village of Pilton in Somerset, South West England, on June 21, 2017. The largest greenfield festival in the world Glastonbury Festival is now a five-day festival of contemporary performing arts. The Somerset Festival, which Michael Eavis started in 1970 when several hundred hippies paid just £1, now attracts more than 175,000 people. (Photo by Dylan Martinez/Reuters)

Girls cry as they get separated from their family at the border line dividing Macedonia and Greece August 21, 2015. At least 1,000 migrants and refugees pressed against Macedonian police lines on the Greek-Macedonian border on Friday and at least 10 people appeared to faint in the crush. People could be heard screaming and medical workers raced to treat those who passed out or were hurt. The crush ensued after police let several hundred through into Macedonia, having kept them out since Thursday under an emergency decree. (Photo by Ognen Teofilovski/Reuters)

Dressers make last minute adjustments to the costumes of dancers performing as horses during a press preview of American artist Nick Cave's first major work shown in Australia, entitled HEARD.SYD in Sydney, November 8, 2016. Over several days the live art performance will feature 30 “horses” dancing to live percussion beats in suits made from coloured raffia plant fibres. (Photo by Jason Reed/Reuters)

A person dressed as the Krampus performs during the 9th Krampus meeting show in Serfaus, Tyrol, Austria, 12 November 2016. Several thousand people watched the parade of about 27 artists groups from Austria and South Tyrol, Italy. The Krampus is a folklorical figure who, during the Christmas season, punishes children who have misbehaved. (Photo by Christian Bruna/EPA)