This is work by Ona Salvador (ig) on the shutters of Skull And Bones Tattoo Society (web) in North Street, replacing the sign for the tattoo convention (see Inkology). Salvador also did a piece in Union Street for HTN25.
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Sightings of seals in the Lagan go back to the late 80s (DCTours) and became so much a part of the city’s culture that they (under the singular familiar ‘Sammy the seal’ standing in for multiple individuals and generations) have been celebrated in a set of three sculptures on Donegall Quay near the Big Fish (geograph | Belfast Live). Joining the sculptures is a new piece of street art by HMC (web), painted for Hit The North 2025 on an exterior wall of the Laganside bus centre.
In-progress images … May 3rd:
May 2nd:
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The growth-stages of the flax plant, from seedling to flower are illustrated from right to left on four unused shop-fronts along Linenhall Street, Belfast (next to the British Heart Foundation mural).
The official title of the piece, painted by Visual Waste (web) and sponsored by the Linen Quarter BID (web) is “Seeding Success”. After flowering, the plant produces fruit/capsules which contain seeds (WP image).
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These are images of a “legal” spray-paint wall, in Little Patrick Street. The wall was launched on July 4th (Belfast City Council) with FGB (web) from Seedhead Arts on hand to welcome those who braved the rain (including Codo (ig), Feoiliteach (ig), and Dash (ig)).
One writer got there a day earlier, however, to claim “FIRST” and note that “great minds think alike, apparently!!!” – perhaps meaning that the wall is generally covered with tags and writing, and might well return to that state. The comments to posts by Seedhead Arts (ig) and Belfast City Council (ig) contain some reaction from writers to the claims that the wall is the first legal wall and that is might “help deter graffiti and tagging”. An Instagram account has been set up for the wall and any other legal walls that are so designated.
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Leicester House (Future Belfast), at the junction of Royal Avenue and Lower Garfield Street, and the adjacent Hampden House (Future Belfast), on Royal Avenue. Both buildings (51-63 Royal Avenue) are vacant (the Leicester since 2016) and are part of the long-awaited Tribeca redevelopment – see 2019’s To Be Continued. In the meantime, the façades of the buildings have been given a facelift by Alana McDowell (ig). Below are three in-progress shots from June 20th.
June 20th:
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The UNI Europa mural (Real Say, More Pay) from April is already gone, replaced by “Free Gaza” and a call for “boycott, divestment, sanctions”.
The Civil Rights board (No Apartheid) which was removed for the UNI mural has been re-mounted on the facing wall.
Donegall Street Place, Belfast city centre
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Here are only three of many painted utility boxes that have been recently painted as part of the on-going Belfast Canvas project, begun in 2020.
These three pieces are …
‘Hang In There’ by CG Chimp (Chaingun on ig) on the Holywood Road in east Belfast,
‘I (Heart) Pool!’ by PaperSleeve/Niamh McWilliams (web) on Donegall Road in south Belfast,
and an abstract piece by Bláthnaıd Ní hAogáın (ig) in University Square, Belfast city centre.
For about 140 painted boxes, from the Belfast Canvas project and otherwise, see the Visual History page for the boxes.
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This is new street art by Friz (web) and KVLR (web) and Rob Hilken (web) in Bank Square, presenting a contemporary take on the Belfast coat of arms – the original can be seen in this City Council page.
Belfast became a city in 1888 and from that time onward the sea-horse on the right – both officially and in the new piece – wears around its neck a “mural crown”, a crown that looks like the walls of a city.
The wolf in the official coat of arms is “gorged and chained”. In the new art, the only sign of the wolf’s chain is the metal zipper slider on its tracksuit.
(An 1892 book (archive.org) claims that the chained wolf, while itself a familiar image in heraldry and civic arms, is borrowed specifically from the Chichester coat of arms in tribute to Arthur Chichester, prosecutor of the Nine Years’ War against the O’Neills in Ulster and subsequently Lord Deputy Of Ireland and developer of the village of Belfast into a town (DIB | WP), but we can find no other source to this effect nor any image of the Chichester arms that includes supporters.)
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“Don’t go home without your pizza!” – graffiti-art on the side of Little Italy pizza in Belfast city centre.
Keylands Place, Belfast
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“Mary Ann McCracken (1770-1866) Abolitionist, educator, social reformer and businesswoman. Sheas Mary Ann an fód ar son na mbocht, na mban, na bpáıstí agus ar son sıúd a bhí faoı dhaoırse. [Mary Ann stood up for the poor, women, children, and for those who were enslaved.]”
“Mary Ann McCracken’s feminist ideals and commitment to the principles of Equality, Liberty, Fraternity applying equally to the Rights of Woman defined her participation in the United Irish Movement.” For McCracken’s connection to the 1798 Rebellion, see These Are Times That Try Men’s Souls.
McCracken is shown handing out abolitionist leaflets that picture a pleading enslaved woman above the words “Am I not a woman and a sister?” The same supplicant image is on the medallion (perhaps made by Wedgwood for the Society For The Abolition Of The Slave Trade – WP) worn at her throat. See also: The Blots On The Page Are So Black and The World Affords No Enjoyment Equal To That Of Promoting The Happiness Of Others.
The statue was unveiled in the grounds of Belfast City hall together with a statue to Winifred Carney on International Women’s Day (March 8th) 2024; both statues were produced by Ralf and Naomi Sander (BCC).
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Paddy Duffy Collection 