7 art exhibitions happening this season in Belfast
Find intriguing art exhibits showcasing artwork in a variety of mediums, from painting to photography, oil pastels to textiles, crafts and design, the world of fine art. Northern Ireland has something for everyone.
1. 141st Annual Royal Ulster Academy Exhibition, Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens – until 3 January 2023
The annual exhibition at the Royal Ulster Academy is one of the most exciting exhibitions on the Northern Irish cultural calendar revealing the work of acclaimed and emerging artists from Northern Ireland. The exhibition combines different mediums such as photography, drawing, sculpture, video, ceramics and more. If you can’t attend the event, this exhibit can also be experienced online in a virtual tour created by Marshall Media. For more information, visit: https://belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/
Photo: image taken from belfastinternationalartsfestival.com
2. Artefacts and Encounters, Golden Thread Gallery, 84-94 Great Patrick Street – through November 5, 2022.
Internationally acclaimed performance artist Elvira Santamaría Torres presents Artefacts and Encounters at the Golden Thread Gallery as part of the Belfast International Arts Festival. In this exhibition, Torres delves into human behavior such as mental suffering, love, mourning and consciousness, revisiting objects from her past performance work, she revealed: “The Golden Thread Gallery invited me to create an exhibition of my work focused on memory and reflection. So I take this opportunity to compost the experience of the past, and to do so in a public sphere at the Golden Thread. To feed my thoughts with renewed enthusiasm for the present – We have yet to live, to create art” For more information visit: https://www.goldenthreadgallery.co.uk/
Photo: Image from goldenthreadgallery.co.uk
3. Re-Imagining Treason, Belfast Exposed, 23 Donegall Street – until 19 November
This research-based and lens-based exhibition by artist Mhairi Sutherland is inspired by the lives of English-born novelist Erskine Childers and Irish nationalist activist Mary Spring Rice, exploring imperialism and nationalism in through a photographic archive of the sea. For more information, visit: https://www.belfastexposed.org/
Photo: Image taken from belfastexposed.org
4. HERE, Belfast Exposed, 23 Donegall Street – until Saturday 17th December
In this exhibition, award-winning visual artist Mairéad McClean combines new and previously exhibited works offering insight into Northern Ireland’s recent history. Mcclean draws on personal experience and memories of living through the Troubles. On one wall is an impressive new site-specific piece titled Learning to Read. This coincides with his award-winning film No More and pays homage to the famous Janet and John book series. The exhibit also recounts his father’s memory of being held in Long Kesh Prison in 1971/1972. For more information visit: https://www.belfastexposed.org/
Photo: Image taken from belfastexposed.org
