About Ilona Van de Braak
Ilona van de Braak (1963) is a Dutch ceramist who began her art in 1993 taking master classes with Dutch ceramists Henriette van Klinken and Marian Daems.
Ilona draws her inspiration from nature and memories. Naturally-shaped objects invite the viewer to touch or hold, enticing with their textures and characters - heavy, smooth, prickly…. Memories are captured in her exquisite handmade tiles.
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A member of The Parallel Travels Project, Ilona has worked alongside Kazakhstan and French ceramists Elena and Vladimir Grigoryan and Fabienne Laheurte, conducting master classes and exhibitions in Kazakhstan (Almaty, Aktau and Astana) in 2014. She exhibited in Lanciano, Italy, in 2016, and in Yangon, Myanmar, in 2018 and 2019.
While living and working in Myanmar, Ilona developed a body of work, richly decorated tiles, plates and ornaments, inspired by daily experiences and Myanmar cultures and traditions.
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Futhermore, in close cooperation with Myanmar potters and Hla Day social enterprise, Ilona set up a community development project, working creatively with local potter families to inspire and support diversification of products.
'There is not a day that goes by that Myanmar doesn't inspire me; the people, the colours and its nature. I feel fortunate to be part of it’.