Mostly a self-taught potter in Southern Africa, Antoinette Badenhorst obtained permanent United States residency for herself and her family because of her "extraordinary ability in the field of ceramics". While in Africa, Antoinette taught ceramics in her studio, workshops in schools, and she also trained potters. After Antoinette and her family moved to the USA, the artist was not allowed to earn an income, so she kept herself busy with training of local potters, who allowed her to create work in their studios. Once she obtained working visas for herself, and her children, and specifically after she was rewarded with a green card for her and her whole family, she resumed teaching in her own studio, while she was doing volunteer work in schools, libraries, churches, and other community related programs.