Patty Wouters

IAC member since 2019
IAC Representative to UNESCO 2025-2031

Patty Wouters is a highly respected international ceramic artist, educator, curator and cultural ambassador with over thirty years’ experience in art education and international collaboration. As a representative of the International Academy of Ceramics (IAC) at UNESCO, she is committed to presenting the organisation’s mission and activities, focusing her work on the shared values of artistic practice, education, cultural heritage and social engagement.

• Professional Background

Patty Wouters holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Graphic and Ceramic Design from art schools in Antwerp and Hasselt, Belgium, and a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Design and Applied Arts from Wolverhampton University, UK. She also earned a teaching qualification and a BFA in Social Studies from Eindhoven University of Technology (the Netherlands), reflecting her deep commitment to education and social responsibility.

Patty has further refined her ceramic practice by taking masterclasses with several internationally renowned ceramists, including Takeshi Yasuda, Antonia Salmon, David Miller, David Roberts, Sasha Wardell, Steve Mattison and Peter Lane.

Patty Wouters was the director of the Art Education Institute Atelier Cirkel in Belgium for over 30 years. Under her leadership, the institute became an important platform for long-term courses, workshops and masterclasses in ceramics and other art disciplines in collaboration with educational institutions and cultural centres, with the support of the Flemish Ministry of Culture.

Between 2008 and 2014, she undertook multiple assignments for a Belgian NGO in Rwanda and Ethiopia, advising local ceramic studios on production, marketing and public relations to strengthen economic sustainability and cultural identity.

Patty Wouters has been invited to give lectures and demonstrations and to participate in ceramic symposia all over the world, including in the Netherlands, France, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Australia, the United States and Belgium. She has curated several travelling exhibitions and regularly serves as a jury member for international ceramics events.

She has completed artist residencies in China, the United States, Spain, Australia, France and Italy and  has been an invited professor at Ewha Womans University and Hanyang University in Seoul, as well as at Keimyung University in Daegu.

She has received numerous awards for her artistic work in Belgium and abroad, including the Golden Honourable Medal from the Brasschaat Council (Antwerp) in recognition of her outstanding international cultural achievements. Since 1985, she has held multiple solo exhibitions and participated in numerous national and international group exhibitions.

More information about her artistic practice can be found at: www.pattywouters.be

• Vision and Intentions as IAC Representative to UNESCO

Recognising the scope and responsibility of the IAC Representative role at UNESCO, Patty Wouters emphasises that these ambitions can only be realised through close collaboration with a dedicated team of experienced and motivated IAC members from around the world.

Her vision focuses on the following key areas:

Global Inventory of Ceramic Heritage
The aim is to establish a global inventory of ceramic heritage, paying special attention to endangered traditions and communities in urgent need of support. This initiative will rely on collaboration with local IAC members and could involve university students from disciplines such as anthropology, sociology and history, as part of academic research projects.

Education Enhancement
Facilitating exchanges between educational institutions and creating training opportunities for disadvantaged youth. These collaborations strengthen ceramic education and foster mutual understanding, cultural awareness and tolerance.

Environmental Research
Promoting sustainable ceramic practices, including researching the recycling of ceramic materials, the innovative use of ceramic waste and environmentally responsible firing methods. Supporting such initiatives can lead to scalable solutions with a global impact.

Crisis Response
Remaining attentive and responsive in times of crisis caused by conflict, natural disasters or climate-related events. The IAC can play a vital role in supporting affected ceramic communities, as demonstrated during the conflict in Ukraine and in response to floods, earthquakes and hurricanes.

Enhanced Communication
Strengthening communication through regular updates on IAC–UNESCO projects via the IAC Newsletter and Bulletin, ensuring transparency, engagement, and active participation among members.

• Clay as a Tool for Peace

“More than ever, we need to work on peace. I am convinced that clay connects us and promotes tolerance and understanding. Ceramic educational projects can contribute to this. That is why ceramic cultural heritage must be recognized and protected.” {Patty Wouters, 2025}

Patty Wouters’ aim is to identify and connect groups, locations and educational centres around the world that are dedicated to fostering sustainable peace through ceramic projects. This ambitious vision can only be realised through collective effort and collaboration.

IAC members who wish to contribute to these initiatives are warmly invited to get in touch:
patty@pattywouters.be
pwouters@aic-iac.org