Ilse Beunen

Ilse's artistic journey began with pursuing landscape architecture, eventually leading her to Japan in 1989.  During her 11-year stay, she fell in love with Ikebana and had the privilege of studying under two Japanese teachers Kobayahi Miwako, and Crivelli Joko.

With a strong desire to share her passion for Ikebana, Ilse established her own atelier in Belgium in 2000.  Through her workshops, demonstrations, and active presence on social media, she has cultivated a global community of ikebana enthusiasts.  She was also the chairperson of the Belgian Sogetsu Azalea Studygroup from 2014 to 2018.

Ilse's contributions have been recognized through numerous opportunities, including receiving the 90th Anniversary Commemorative Overseas Akane Teshigahara Award in 2017. Her ikebana videos and her books, "Exploring Ikebana" and "Inspiring Ikebana," serve as valuable resources for those seeking to delve deeper into the art of Ikebana and tap into their creative potential.