Green Academy Seminar Series – Episode 6

Reshaping Ceramics: How to Transform an Art Practice for Sustainability

10 April 2025, Thursday, at 18:00 CET.

Yuliya Makliuk

🌱Reshaping Ceramics: How to Transform an Art Practice for Sustainability – with Yuliya Makliuk🌱

🌱How can artists reconcile their creative pursuits with the urgent need for environmental sustainability? Ukrainian environmentalist-turned-potter, Yuliya Makliuk, works within a framework she calls “Ceramics in the Anthropocene”, exploring the connections between clay art and climate change. Her recent research project and book, Potters Save the World, are dedicated to lowering the carbon footprint of ceramics making. Through the lens of ceramic studio art, Yuliya will unfold the challenges and opportunities at the intersection of art, craft, and ecological responsibility.

🌱Drawing from her own artistic practice and experiments, Yuliya will share insights into reducing the environmental impact of creative work while maintaining artistic integrity. From examining the carbon footprint of materials to adopting innovative approaches like low-carbon processes, ethical sourcing, and waste reduction, we’ll discuss practical strategies applicable across disciplines.

We’ll also explore art as a driver for environmental awareness, learning from contemporary ceramic artists leading the way in addressing climate change through their work. By blending a scientific lens with the expressive power of art, Yuliya highlights how small changes can contribute to a larger cultural shift toward sustainability.

🌱Yuliya Makliuk is a ceramic artist, activist, and author exploring the intersection of sustainability and ceramics. She uses her background in ecology to revolutionise the art of clay. Her writing on sustainable ceramics has been featured in Ceramics Monthly, Studio Potter, and Ceramics Now, and her book Potters Save the World is widely recognised for laying the foundations of earth-friendly ceramics. Yuliya is the founder of Here & Now Pottery and has been awarded the Risktakers and CEC ArtsLink fellowships for her work in sustainability and arts organising. Living in Ukraine, Yuliya processes the experiences of war through her art and offers clay therapy for affected communities.

🌱Instagram: @hereandnowpottery

🌱The episodes of the Green Academy are hosted by ecologist, philosopher, and writer Philipp P. Thapa.
🌱Organised in collaboration with the Sustainable Europe Research Institute Germany (SERI.de).

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🌱About Green Academy🌱

Pro Progressione’s Green Pillar emphasizes the integration of artistic practices with the more-than-human environment. We lead and collaborate on various projects, focusing on sustainability and connecting artists with critical environmental issues.
Although these events are directly linked to projects such as The Big Green, we aim to provide an open platform for the cultural and creative sectors, inviting our partners to join the Academy. Following our 2024 pilot phase, we plan to organize five more lectures next year. These events are open to registered participants and offer not only learning experiences but also the opportunity to form a community of professionals dedicated to environmentally conscious art.

🌱If you would like to attend, you can register here: https://forms.gle/SHSQodgLUrzBnhbu9
(After registration, we’ll send you the Zoom link some days before the event)

You can read more about the Green Academy here: www.proprogressione.com/en/projects/green-academy

The Big Green project behind Green Academy is co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union.