Welcoming Mat (Mat Welcoming) exhibition

Friday, 01 May 2026 to Friday, 29 May 2026 at 09:00 to 17:00

Penzance-based Rachel Lambert is the Environment and Sustainability Institute's Artist-In-Residence. She spent most of April developing new ideas and creative outputs inspired by the interdisciplinary research context of the institute. Her exhibition will be displayed throughout May 2026.

Event details

Rachel Lambert's creative practice is motivated by the understanding that the biggest threat to our ecological stability is our disconnect from nature. Straddling craft, fine art, foraging and sustainability, she explores local plant fibres in a way that begs; questions of our own material choices, an awe of flora and an inspiration for the potential of human-to-plant relationships.

As an emerging artist with a background as a foraging guide and award-winning author on wild food and cooking, Rachel's passion for celebrating common and, often, over-looked plants is central to her work. Using traditional techniques, some of which are on the UK red list of crafts at risk of going extinct, Rachel engages new creative ways to remind us of our rich ancestry and symbiotic relationship with plants.

Indeed, her work is a nod to our indigenous past of honouring plants, using everything and respecting all of life, both letting the plants speak for themselves and helping give them voice through the processes she uses and objects she creates. You can see Rachel’s previous work at www.wildwalks-southwest.co.uk 

Welcome Mat (Mat Welcoming) Exhibition

Inspired by the sign at the entrance to the Falmouth and Exeter’s University entrance, Rachel’s exhibition explores questions of diversity and community, asking; what is natural and how can and do we connect? Through, quite literally, weaving together histories, of both plants and people, she celebrates a changing topography.

This exhibition will be displayed in the ESI Creative Studio throughout May 2026. Everyone is welcome to come by and view it. 

More information about Rachel's residency can be found here.

Here is some information about getting to our campus.

Organiser

Environment and Sustainability Institute

Location

Creative Studio, Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn TR10 9FE