PLAYGROUND DETROIT presents “Endangered Species” (March 12–27, 2022), a solo exhibition of new work by 2020 Emerging Artist Fellowship awardee Cristin Ríchard. The exhibition introduces an immersive body of work that reflects on humanity’s relationship to the natural world through sculpture, installation, and performance.
In a culture increasingly shaped by speed, technology, and overstimulation, Endangered Species invites viewers to slow down and reconsider their connection to the environment. Through tactile materials and atmospheric presentation, Ríchard creates a space for reflection on the fragile systems that sustain both human and ecological life.
Ríchard’s practice is research-driven and interdisciplinary, often merging installation, performance, and fashion-based narratives. Her work examines the human condition through the use of natural and organic materials, exploring themes of identity, vulnerability, and the layered complexity of existence.
This latest series focuses on shifting values and environmental urgency. Materiality remains central to the artist’s process, functioning not only as a formal language but also as a carrier of memory, responsibility, and energy. Organic matter becomes both subject and medium, emphasizing the interconnectedness between bodies, histories, and ecosystems.
The exhibition also features a soundscape composed by Nate Czarling, activated during the opening reception and on weekends throughout the run of the show. Ríchard has exhibited locally and internationally, including presentations in New York, Paris, Iceland, and Switzerland. Most recently, she received support from the Gucci Changemakers North America Impact Fund.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Cristin Richard is in the movement of artists whose work is related to the body and identity. Particularly interested in the manipulation of organic matter, these materials build a dialog of what it feels like to be human. Her passion for materiality deliberately fuels her practice and, in itself, presents an upgraded awareness of ecological balance. She views material as a multifaceted conductor of energy, responsibility, and historical information.
She has exhibited her work locally and abroad, in New York, Paris, Iceland, and Switzerland. In 2020, she was awarded the Emerging Artist Fellowship from PLAYGROUND DETROIT. Most recently, she was awarded support from the Gucci Changemakers North America Impact Fund.
