Ceramic Dreams Across Borders: Sofia Beca’s Inspiring Talk at Jingdezhen Art University

Today is April 15th, and I’d love to share something special that just happened here in Jingdezhen.

We had a guest artist all the way from Portugal — Sofia Beca — who gave a wonderful talk at Jingdezhen Vocational University of Art. She walked us through her personal journey in ceramic art, sharing more than two decades of experience and stories behind her sculptures.

So who is Sofia Beca?

She was born in Portugal and started her ceramic journey back in 1992, studying at the Escola de Artes Decorativas Soares dos Reis in Porto. That’s where she completed her technical course in ceramics.

Later in 1997, she went on to study Raku ceramics at CEARTE in Coimbra, Portugal. Then she deepened her focus on ceramic sculpture and mural work, training under the renowned painter and ceramist Arcádio Blasco, also in Coimbra.

By 1999, she expanded her learning further in Spain, where she took part in a Creative Ceramics Course guided by the sculptor and ceramist Emidio Galassi. That was a big turning point for her as a ceramic sculptor.

Fast forward to today — in a tiered classroom at Jingdezhen Vocational University of Art — Sofia gave us a one-hour presentation showing some of her signature ceramic sculptures created between 1992 and 2025. It wasn’t just about the pieces — it was about her dream, her path, and how she’s grown through clay.

This university, by the way, is a private institution sponsored by the Taoxichuan Cultural Tourism Group. It was founded in 2001 and now has over 24 years of experience nurturing ceramic professionals in Jingdezhen.

Sofia is currently visiting Jingdezhen as part of the 2025 Spring Artist Residency Program organized at Taoxichuan. She and her fellow artists took this opportunity to share their insights with both local students and fellow ceramic lovers from the university.

For everyone who attended — it was an inspiring moment, blending global creativity with Jingdezhen’s historic ceramic roots.