Behind the Design with Caroline Rennequin

Behind the Design

Caroline Rennequin

The lively floral prints in our SS22 collection were created by a Parisian artist whose work we love. Caroline paused her art career for several years to raise her son, but after he started school, she dove back in with great success — proof that it’s never too late to pursue your passion!

@CAROLINERENNEQUIN

What’s your background?

I was born in 1970 in Paris. I started studying art at 15 until I was 24. Then I worked in several artistic sectors such as fashion (notably with Isabel Marant), theatrical sets and costumes, illustration, and textile patterns, while practicing painting and sculpture.

When my son was born, I decided to stop working to take care of my child, which was the most important thing to me. When he started school I resumed my professional activities with great pleasure.

15 years ago I started an artistic collaboration with French designer Jérôme Dreyfuss. I create "art set design" for his brand of leather goods, and I am art director for the creation of collections and visual communication. At the same time, I am pursuing my artistic career. In 2021 I exhibited my work of flower paintings in Ibiza in the Galeria Tambien, and in Paris in a collective exhibition in the Galerie Vallois.

I have just published a book with The Drawer editions, titled That’s All Folks!, which brings together 301 flowers that I painted during the confinement in 2020. I’m also working on a beautiful solo exhibition for the end of 2022 in the Galerie Fournier in Paris.

Kids' names and ages?

I have a 19-year-old son named Richard, and he is studying art.

What does your work aim to say?

My artistic work reflects my life as a woman, as a human being and my artistic reflections. It is therefore built to the rhythm of my evolution, but also of my dreams, and of my history.

How have you developed your career?

My career was built little by little, from art schools in which I met lots of people who were decisive for me. We had to make choices between several routes... I very often worked on instinct. It was my passion for art that guided everything.

What advice would you give to a young artist — or wish someone had told you?

I was a teacher for 10 years in an art school. I encouraged hundreds of students to become artists. Being an artist is the best job in the world when it's a real passion. We have all the courage when we are passionate about what we do, whether we are an artist or any other profession.

What do you like about Oeuf? What inspired you to collaborate?

When Sophie, the creator of Oeuf, offered me this collaboration, I fell in love with the brand. I appreciated the creations, as well as Sophie's approach and commitments. There's a lot of tenderness and generosity in this brand. I plunged back with nostalgia into my first years as a young mother. It is therefore with great pleasure that I accepted the offer to create textiles with some flowers that I had painted, in the tradition of art editions on textiles.

Tank Top & Shorts Set

SHOP NOW

Square Romper

SHOP NOW

Kids Flouncy Bodysuit

SHOP NOW

Caroline’s artwork is featured throughout our SS22 patterns, including prints on Pima cotton jersey, embroidery on French terry and even incorporated into some of our cotton knits.

What’s the inspiration for your flower series?

During confinement in 2020, the aesthetics of my childhood in the 70s were comforting and full of freedom. I needed to paint all those colors, that landscape of flowers, all that hopeful joy. The spirit of the 70s and its quest for freedom are landmarks that reactivated at this time in my life.

What’s one life lesson everyone should be taught in school?

Tolerance, creativity, generosity, vigilance and so many things…

What three things are you are most grateful for today?

To be loved, healthy, free.

Where is your happy place?

In nature, and in my house with the people I love.

When did you last dance?

I dance every day when the radio plays a good song!

What’s your superpower, and why?

I have the superpower of lasagna!

What is the best compliment you ever received?

"Your lasagna is delicious"

All images provided by Caroline Rennequin.

Styling With Kids: Joy Cho

Much to the enjoyment of our Instagram feeds, designer and blogger Joy Cho recently built her LA dream home from the ground up. We chatted with her about her favorite neutral, how to design a kids'...

Welcome To Our New Crib In Brooklyn

In Brooklyn’s Prospect Heights, we’ve been quietly working on a new office building that follows the Passive House standard, one of the world’s most aggressive and proven approaches to radical ener...

Behind the Design

Caroline Rennequin

Read more