Art & Soul gallery in Santa Barbara, will present an immersive new exhibit Biophilia: The Nature Within, opening 5-8 p.m. May 1 with a First Thursday wine and cheese reception at 1323 State St.

“This show reflects on our relationship with the natural world through art that honors the cycles of life and renewal,” the gallery explained.

At the core of the exhibit are works by Santa Barbara artist Giuliana Mottin, who preserves the ephemeral beauty of nature through fluid watercolors and delicate pressed flowers.

Suspended moss sculptures and experimental soil works both elevate and anchor the display, evoking the concept of soul and soil, a mirror of inner and outer oneness, according to Art & Soul.

In the heart of the gallery, a large-scale textile piece made from upcycled materials creates a tactile, grass-like landscape, depicting nature’s cycles of repurposing and renewal.

Enhancing the forest-like atmosphere, a living “trail” of plants and trees by EmmaRose Florals leads to an intimate immersion in the center room, the gallery said.

In the anterior room, visitors will find an upcycled raincloud sculpture by Shelby Scudder suspends above paintings by Belle Hahn and Tricia Evenson.

Culminating the show will be an artist talk featuring Mottin and Hahn, as part of the gallery’s Conversations with Artists series, 5-7 p.m. Thursday, May 29.

To complement the exhibit, Art & Soul will host nature-themed workshops throughout May, as well as live ritual performance art May 16-17 with Anima, Theater of the Feminine Underground.