From carnage To conscious

Eugène Riconneaus is a French artist, designer, and material innovator whose career bridges the worlds of art, fashion, and environmental science. Born in La Rochelle and raised in a fishing family on France’s Atlantic coast, Riconneaus’s deep-rooted connection to the ocean has guided his creative philosophy and enduring commitment to sustainability.

He first gained attention as an artist at the age of 19 through collaborations with ARTE and filmmaker Larry Clark, exploring themes of youth and subculture via photography and painting. His early work, notably the “scar of the city” series, captured the raw aesthetics of the Parisian skateboarding scene, turning urban imprints into symbolic visual language.

In the early 2010s, Riconneaus launched a women’s footwear line defined by sensuality, rebellion, and circular design. Long before sustainability became a trend, his shoes were crafted from leftover materials and embodied a bold, feminine spirit. His creations were featured in concept stores such as Colette, 10 Corso Como, and Joyce, and worn by style icons including Monica Bellucci, Pamela Anderson, and Grace Jones. This success led to collaborations with major brands like Supreme NYC, Dr. Martens, and Mercedes-Benz, solidifying his role as a creative director with both artistic credibility and commercial impact.

In 2020, during the global lockdowns, Eugène Riconneaus witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of marine pollution on the beaches of his hometown in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. This experience marked a pivotal shift in his creative direction. He began incorporating recycled marine waste—alongside his own patented biomaterials—into his artwork, merging aesthetic expression with ecological responsibility. This evolution culminated in a groundbreaking projection at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York in 2022, introducing his environmentally driven approach to an international audience.

Following this turning point, Riconneaus delved deeper into biomimicry and material science. He began crafting his own pigments and polymers using marine biomass such as invasive seaweed, seafood shells, and recycled fishnets—transforming his studio into a hybrid space between art lab and research atelier. This journey of material experimentation led to the founding of ER Ocean Recherche—a next-generation materials innovation platform focused on developing high-performance, marine-based biomaterials. Rather than relying on global supply chains or outsourcing, Riconneaus champions localized production and ecosystem-building wherever he works, blending art, science, and community engagement into a single sustainable model. Drawing on his background in fashion and design, as well as his lifelong connection to the ocean, Riconneaus is now at the forefront of marine-based material innovation.

Today, working between Paris and Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Eugène Riconneaus is redefining the role of the artist-designer. Through ER Ocean Recherche, he merges creativity, science, and environmental responsibility, offering a powerful vision of how cross-disciplinary innovation can meet the urgent challenges of our time.