There’s something distinctly animal in this show. The wool for the felt sculptures obviously, trained and teased into fantastical shapes and patterns. But more than that, there’s the teats from calf feed bottles moulded into an interlocking gape of felt. And the bristles sticking out. And then there’s the huge off-white sack suspended from the ceiling like so much tripe on a hook. It’s a slightly creepy hint of the abattoir, yet the forms unmistakably suggest moving, vibrant life at the same time.

There’s a whole lot else going on too in this compact but rewarding show. Glimpse the shapes from another angle and they become an Aztec headdress, or a mad sundial. Sarah Venus clearly has an interest in twinned shapes, returning in both her sculptures and prints to the idea of entwined, kissing or almost-touching relationships.

The prints and paintings are every bit as interesting as the sculptures, some again suggesting the art of ancient American civilizations. The colours complement the themes: rich, earthy ochres, pink and aquamarine. Take a trip out to Hutton le Hole and see if you can resist touching.
Janis Bright

Tactillia, Sarah Venus, runs from now until 20 June at Ryedale Folk Museum, Hutton le Hole, tel 01751 417367