Vera Stoefs is a creator of contemporary porcelain tableware.

It all started out as a way for her to work with her hands. She started evening classes at the IKA (Mechelen, Belgium) in 1991. What followed was a long list of workshops at some of the most renowned ceramicists in Europe. She now runs her own ceramics studio and teaches others about the art of porcelain throwing. Ceramics are a way for Vera to keep balance: “Ceramics – and certainly throwing – is like being away from the world.”

Though not the easiest, her choice of working with porcelain is resolute. She likes the white, translucent material that allows for tight shapes and forms the perfect white canvas for different kinds of colours. The choice for dinnerware is also a very conscious one, because she likes to bring light and beauty in the everyday with seemingly simple geometrical forms, clean lines and detailed finish.

All of Vera’s pieces are handmade, which allows her to keep things small and simple and to give undivided attention to the creation and refinement process. It is a way for her to stay close to the product and customer.

“From my hands to your table” says it all: Vera creates beautiful one of a kind pieces by hand that have a direct impact on your daily life.

k-Lei atelier (own studio)

Hippodroomlaan 115
1933 Sterrebeek - Belgium

k-Lei atelier

klei-Bar

Brusselsesteenweg 262
3020 Herent - Belgium

Klei-Bar

Gewoon Zwart Pop-up

Wilselsesteenweg 36
3020 Herent - Belgium

Gewoon Zwart

De Tafel van Feliz

Mechelse straat 11
3000 Leuven - Belgium

De Tafel van Feliz

Funky Interior

Waversebaan 164
3001 Heverlee - Belgium

Funky Interior

Work available at

TV report for Tendens.TV filmed in my studio. All credits to the team : Jochen Decostere and Jens Vanysacker. March 2021, in between lockdowns

Timelines

  • 1975 - 1980 Civil Engineer, VUB (Brussels, BE)

    1991 - 1999 Ceramics, IKA (Mechelen, BE)

    1993 – 2021 Masterclasses Ceramics with : Patty Wouters, Lenore Vanderkooi, Shozo Michikawa, Jan Winkels - Wheelthrowing, Atelier Cirkel (Brasschaat, BE), Astrid Gerhartz, Victor Greenaway, Mieke Everaet, Henk Wolvers - Porcelain , Atelier Cirkel (Brasschaat, BE) , Rudie Delanghe (FR), Frank Theunissen, Fritz Rossman, Nina Lund - Wheelthrowing, La céramique (Cordes-sur-ciel, FR), Joëlle Swanet, Anima Roos, Frans Gregoor - Wheelthrowing, La Magie Du Tour (Ottignies, BE) , Sasha Wardell, Mould making and Bone China workshops (FR, UK) , Susanne Lukács-Ringel (GE)

    2013 - 2019 Goldsmithing evening classes, Syntra (Brussels, BE)

    2013 – 2021 Goldsmithing Workshops, Lotte Demey, Nathalie Perneel (Antwerp, BE)

  • 1999 De Vloer (Herent , BE)

    2004 Westerwaldpreis 2004 exhibition, Keramikmuseum Westerwald (Höhr-Grenzhausen , GE)

    2005 20 Year Glass 40 Years Ceramics IKA , Cultureel Centrum( Mechelen, BE)

    2007 De Kam (Wezembeek-Oppem, BE)

    2007 Qartz (Mechelen, BE)

    2011 The Ceramic Event III (Vorst/Forest , BE)

    2012 The Ceramic Event IV (Vorst/Forest, BE)

    2013 Andenne (BE)

    2013 Eén Vierkante meter (Zelzate,BE)

    2013 The Ceramic Event V (Vorst/Forest BE)

    2013 Kunstvestdagen (Mechelen,BE)

    2015/2016 Studio Twee (Antwerpen, BE)

    2017 Clay expressions (Bierbeek, BE)

    2017 Ceramic Event VIII (Vorst/Forest, BE)

    2017 Stiel en Stijl (Kessel-lo , BE)

    2018 Belgian Art and Design (Gent, BE)

    2018 Stiel en Stijl (Kessel-lo, BE)

    2019 Opening own showroom ‘k-Lei Atelier’ (Sterrebeek, BE)

    2021 Clay Expressions on Tour (Rijmenam, Ekeren, Liège - BE) 2021 Talent Present (Muizen, BE)

    2021 Designer at Opening Campus Vakmanschap (Bokrijk, BE)

    2022 Clay Expressions on Tour (Sint-Truiden, Huy, Ostend - BE)

    2022 Earthworks (Brussels - BE)

  • 2004 Selection WesterwaldPreis 2004 (Höhr-Grenzhausen , GE)

    2006 2nd price Keramiekbiennale (Brasschaat, BE)

    2017 3rd price Jewelry Award (Antwerp, BE)

    2022 HIB (Handmade in Belgium) label.