Portugal is world-famous for its tradition of “Azulejos,” hand painted ceramic tiles that adorn walls, bus stops, churches, and even entire buildings. Inspired by this practice, which is both ancient and contemporary at the same time, the IAC Exhibition Commission is creating an unjuried exhibition of members’ own tile-works.

I am thrilled that the 2024 IAC congress is taking place in Portugal, land of tiles, “azulejos”, especially given I have been using tiles as my specialism since studying public art at Chelsea School of Art in the early 1990s. I am presenting a tile originally designed for a private villa in Asturias, Spain, in the Azulejos exhibition.