Living Wild Exhibition Explores Homelessness Through Art

December 3, 2025 Off By

New lino-cut series at MAPA Cultural Arts Centre runs from 7 to 27 January 2026

A new art exhibition titled Living Wild will open at the MAPA Cultural Arts Centre in Bradford from 7 to 27 January 2026. The exhibition features a series of lino-cut works that depict people experiencing homelessness as symbolic animal–human figures. The artwork aims to challenge stigma and reflect on themes of resilience, displacement, and the urgent realities faced by those without stable housing.

About the Exhibition

The artist behind Living Wild is Ruth Fettis, a Bradford-based printmaker known for her bold, narrative style and use of recycled lino and woodcut techniques. The exhibition is part of the Our Turn programme and presents a new body of work inspired by Fettis’s observations of a homeless encampment in her local area.

Fettis explains that the work was prompted by overhearing a conversation where homeless people were described as living “like animals.” This led her to explore the dignity and resourcefulness of animals, reimagining homeless individuals as animal–human hybrids to highlight their strength and humanity.

Artistic Approach and Themes

The exhibition features five animal–human figures: a deer, a bear, a fox, a badger, and a Palestinian mountain gazelle.
Each figure represents a person who has experienced homelessness, reflecting their resilience and struggles.
The lino-cut medium, known for its labour-intensive process, is used to develop these works, which are described as works in progress.
The artist draws on historical and cultural symbolism, noting that humans have long identified with animals to express characteristics that empower or improve their situation.

Context and Social Issues

Fettis highlights the complex causes of homelessness, which can include leaving care, mental health challenges, domestic violence, job loss, and transitions such as leaving the army or prison. She also points to the difficulties faced by asylum seekers and refugees, particularly due to policies that require them to leave Home Office accommodation and cease financial support within 28 days of their claim being accepted, creating a narrow window to secure housing and employment.

About the Artist

Ruth Fettis is a mature student and single parent who completed her MA in Printmaking at Bradford College. Her work often explores untold personal and political stories, with a focus on women’s histories and community themes. She has exhibited widely, including solo shows at Cartwright Hall and Shipley Art Gallery, and her projects have received support from Arts Council England.