Penny Tetlow is an artist and activist who explores deprivation, decline and overlooked issues in British politics. Her recent work focuses on her home region, Teesside, in the North East of England, which was once known as “Ironopolis”. Tetlow reflects on its uncertain future amid Net Zero plans. Her mixed-media practice, which blends new and traditional techniques, holds up mirror to the shifting political landscape and the tensions surrounding contemporary reform. This is a powerful commentary on social and environmental challenges, which asks us to reflect on the complex realities facing post-industrial communities today.