Alice Riehl
Ceramist artist
May-June 2025
- Craft & Design
- New York
“While it may not fight climate change directly, can art help to raise awareness of the loss represented by the decline in biodiversity? How can we enable urban dwellers to form a strong and intimate connection with the natural world?”
In my artistic practice, I design and craft large-scale porcelain wall installations. My approach to ceramics has always involved a form of hybridization between plant forms and textile works, echoing the happy moments of my childhood spent with my grandmothers amidst needlework and mountain walks. Initially inspired by lace and its floral patterns, which I imprinted into porcelain to create textured effects, I later became interested in tapestries, their plant motifs, narrative power, and symbolic register.
Over the years and through travels related to commissions, particularly in Asia, I developed a passion for the exuberant flora I encountered. Introducing plants into interiors and observing how their inhabitants related to greenery became a powerful creative stimulus. I noticed that this connection is facilitated when the reference is familiar, whether geographically through the representation of local species or emotionally through memories and lived experiences. I found in the vigor of tropical species the intention I strive to infuse into porcelain in my wall works: a sense of movement and expansion, in short, life.
Living and working in Paris, I am daily witness to the ever-growing separation between urban dwellers and nature, and I am questioning solutions to restore this connection.
Alice Riehl lives and works in Paris. Her porcelain murals are permanently installed in prestigious locations such as Chaumet store on Place Vendôme in Paris, Intercontinental and Four Seasons Hotels in Marseille and Athens, in the Palazzo Pamphilj in Rome and in the vineyards Château Dauzac in Bordeaux or Jordan in California. Riehl’s artwork is featured in private collections internationally. Her sculptures were displayed at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris or the Homo Faber show in Venice among others. She is represented by Todd Merrill Studio which exhibited her works in major art fairs such as Design Miami or PAD.
The rapid and massive extinction of species and the decline in biodiversity, extensively documented by the scientific community for decades, face striking indifference and apathy.
A large majority of the Western population now lives in cities. Urbanization, by destroying local flora and fauna, has deprived humans of a direct and profound connection with the rest of the living world.
Moreover, we can only conserve or protect what we are able to identify and name. Expanding knowledge is also about raising awareness of the importance and urgency of preserving plant species and life in general.
In the 18th century, before the Industrial Revolution altered landscapes and lifestyles, Jean-Baptiste Oberkampf developed Toile de Jouy, a true herbarium on cotton, reflecting both the creator’s vision and the era’s close relationship with plants.
Today, how can we enable urban dwellers to have an “intimate experience” with plants and rebuild a strong connection to the living world?
While art may not directly combat climate change, can it help make people aware of the extent of the loss caused by the decline in biodiversity and generate interest in plants and their value in our lives?
In collaboration with the Musée de la Toile de Jouy and Todd Merrill Studio, this residency aims to explore urbanites’ connection to plants, the concrete solutions implemented in a metropolis the size of New York, the role of art in these issues, and to draw parallels with the Enlightenment era.
Expanding on a scale that is unique in Europe and ranking among the most populous and vast urban areas on the planet, New York is an ideal territory for studying the relationship between humans and plants, and their presence in the city. With one of the richest museum offerings in the world, the city houses an exceptional density of leading talents in the fields of art, design, architecture, and decoration. It is thus the perfect location for this research residency.
Engaging with creators, gallery owners, artists, and influencers to decode their perspectives on the representation of plants in their fields will enrich the research work. Meeting designers who work with and reinterpret Toile de Jouy will provide a parallel to the era of Oberkampf.
Moreover, the metropolis is brimming with initiatives that catalog endemic plant species, raise awareness among residents about the protection of trees and plants, or involve them in collective planting projects. New York is home to two major botanical gardens, the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Additionally, numerous urban farms and gardens provide residents with fresh produce. Visiting these sites, meeting the people working in these farms, as well as scientists, botanists, ecology historians, sociologists, and volunteers in planting programs, will contribute to understanding the issues and the role of plants in the city.
In partnership with
Bettencourt Schueller Foundation
Bettencourt Schueller Foundation strives to embody the will of a family, driven by the spirit of enterprise and awareness of its social role, to reveal talents and help them thrive, in three fields that contribute concretely to the common good: life sciences, the arts and solidarity. Both a family foundation and recognized as a public utility since its creation in 1987, the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation intends to give wings to talent to contribute to the success and influence of France.
WantedDesign
About WantedDesign:
Founded in 2011 in New York City by French New Yorkers Odile Hainaut and Claire Pijoulat, WantedDesign has evolved into a dynamic connector and amplifier for global design, fostering creative synergy and serving as a pivotal crossroad for the international design community. Following an important transformation for these past years, the multi-generational, women-led company now includes Colombian partner Daniela Giraldo Hinestroza and will continue to build on its foundation of community, education, and curation. Through its diverse array of programs- including residencies, workshops, immersion trips, and a membership program- WantedDesign connects designers at every stage of their career with key players of the industry across the Americas and Europe. Claire and Odile, based in New York, have also taken on the role of Brand Directors for ICFF since 2023. Daniela continues to lead from her hometown of Medellín, Colombia.
WantedDesign’s legacy includes the successful WANTED (previously known as the WantedDesign Manhattan), acquired by Emerald Expositions in 2019 to become a section within the International Contemporary Furniture Fair. Co-founders, Odile and Claire, stepped into their role as brand directors of ICFF in 2023 and will continue to do lead the show in 2024. WantedDesign will continue to support the WANTED section at ICFF to spotlight outstanding emerging design.
About WantedDesign’s Residency Program:
Presented in partnership with Industry City, the WantedDesign Residency program in New York offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity for international creatives to immerse themselves in the city’s vibrant design scene. With the support of international cultural organizations, this tailored immersion allows residents to explore, research, network and gain a deeper understanding of the US market and of its opportunities.
Musée de la Toile de Jouy
The Musée de la Toile de Jouy, founded in 1977 in Jouy-en-Josas, Île-de-France, preserves the memory of the 30,000 patterns created and printed between 1760 and 1843 at the Manufacture Oberkampf. Each year, the museum presents exhibitions highlighting the influence of these motifs on contemporary design, as well as the history of textile printing around the world.
Todd Merrill Studio
Todd Merrill Studio represents a diverse collective of global artists blending contemporary design, fine art, and traditional craftsmanship. Each artist pioneers innovative techniques, transcending limits of materials like wood, metal, glass, and ceramic. Their intimate studio fosters creativity, producing groundbreaking works that redefine artistic boundaries, shaping a new visual language at the intersection of art and design.