A life-size, rough, wooden sculpture of United States first lady Melania Trump has been unveiled near her hometown of Sevnica in south-eastern Slovenia, to mixed reviews.

Key points: A gallery in Ljubljana questioned whether the statue was merely a "slapstick prank"

A gallery in Ljubljana questioned whether the statue was merely a "slapstick prank" The sculpture shows Ms Trump in blue clothes similar to those she wore to her husband's inauguration

The sculpture shows Ms Trump in blue clothes similar to those she wore to her husband's inauguration The artist said he wanted to "have a dialogue with my country's political situation"

Commissioned by Berlin-based American artist Brad Downey and carved with a chainsaw by local folk artist Ales Zupevc, the statue serves as a perhaps wry accompaniment to Downey's exhibition in the capital Ljubljana exploring Ms Trump's roots in the small Alpine country.

The blocky, rustic figure was cut from the trunk of a living linden tree — whose base forms a tall plinth — in a field beside the Sava River in the village of Rozno, 8 kilometres from Sevnica.

There was no attempt at an accurate likeness, to the point where the gallery in Ljubljana was left uncertain about how seriously to take the statue.

"Perhaps we are simply trying vigorously to make sense of things that might only be a slapstick prank," it said in a leaflet.

"Who knows?"

The sculptor was born in the same hospital as the first lady. ( Reuters: Borut Zivulovic )

Some Slovenians described the work as a "Smurfette" and "a disgrace", the BBC reported.

Others found symbolism in the piece.

"You know what makes her resemble Melania? Look at how high she climbed to the top, just like real Melania, who rose to the top of America. A little girl from Sevnica. Hats off to her," Sevnica resident Katarina Klenovsek said.

Although the statue's face is rough-hewn and unrecognisable, the figure is shown clothed in the pale blue wraparound coat that Ms Trump wore at Donald Trump's inauguration as United States President.

The artist behind the sculpture highlighted the different trajectories of his and Ms Trump's lives. ( AP: Andrew Harnik )

Downey said he wanted to "have a dialogue with my country's political situation" and highlight Ms Trump's status as an immigrant married to a President sworn to reduce immigration.

The sculptor, known as Maxi, was born in the same hospital as Ms Trump, in the same month, and now mostly works as a pipe-layer.

"Let's face it," he says in a short film being shown as part of the exhibition, "she owns half of America, while I have nothing".

Reuters