Leisa Rich is pleased to present her solo exhibition, Escape to the Safe Zone, a wondrous storybook come to life, made up of wall hangings, sculptures, and installations that will delight all ages. Fantastical creatures transform the Tett Centre Gallery space into a story that addresses the tenuous fate of our world of flora and fauna. The concept investigates the intricate interplay between the preservation of natural ecosystems and human impact, and operates as a conceptual sanctuary amid pervasive environmental and societal precarity. It compels viewers to transcend passive spectatorship and actively interrogate notions of protection, vulnerability, and interdependence. Rich’s art practice fosters profound contemplation on ethical responsibilities toward the biosphere and humanity, challenging entrenched paradigms of boundaries while advocating for resilience in an era marked by uncertainty and crisis. To do so, her pieces and transformed spaces exalt deer, coyote, birds and more to royalty in a unique kingdom. The art works are made of repurposed, recycled, vintage and new materials, traditional techniques of sewing, embroidery, quilting, weaving and more, and modern techniques such as 3D printing, laser engraving and AI.