Eugène Riconneaus is a French artist, designer and pioneer in circular innovation. Raised in a fishing family along the Atlantic coast in La Rochelle, his early connection to the ocean deeply influenced his work and commitment to sustainability.
In his studio, Riconneaus began exploring bio-inspired materials, crafting his own pigments and polymers by experimenting with marine biomass, such as seaweed and seafood shells. His foray into biomimicry and material science has transformed his art and design practice into a platform for environmental activism.
He created ER Ocean Recherche, a next-generation materials company focused on marine-based innovations.
The launch of ER Ocean Recherche in April 2025 followed a long period of research in biotechnology and material science.
The first creation of ER Ocean Research is Sei™, a nano-structured marine material that has been used for several applications: like SeiYarn™ – a biodegradable fiber; and SeiShell™ – a coated canvas mimicking leather.