Work by English artist My Dog Sighs (web) in Talbot Street for Hit The North 2025 (Seedhead Arts), with a Belfast-specific reflection, including the Albert Clock and the gantry cranes Samson & Goliath; the child with an ice-cream is three-year-old Teddy, son of street artist Codo (ig).
My Dog Sighs also painted a smaller eye, reflecting the Sunflower Bar, in Kent St.
There is a small bonus piece featuring two “Quiet Little Voices” on a shutter to the left of the main piece.
Kneecap performed their Coachella sets in front of a large screen onto which messages were projected, including denunciation of the Israeli “genocide” of Palestinians “enabled” by the US (Rolling Stone).
Many cancelled gigs followed, as well as a call from Sharon Osbourne that the band’s work visas be revoked (BBC). In response, Kneecap insisted that their speech was not an incitement to violence (BBC).
The band’s visas might also be in jeopardy because the band has parted ways with booking agents IAG, which sponsored the band’s US tour (Hollywood Reporter).
Further, scrutiny of past performances revealed pro-Hamas and -Hizbollah chants, which have now led to an investigation by the UK’s anti-terror police (NME). The band also apologized for a 2023 remark that “the only good Tory [Conservative MP] is a dead Tory” (BBC).
Many artists and bands have come out in support of Kneecap – about 40 put their names to a statement posted to instagram. The band also has the support of the graffitist in the image above: “Free Palestine – silence = complicity. Seas le Kneecap [stand with Kneecap]”.
This is a gallery of pieces from a HTN 2025 warm-up event at the Ulster Sports Club in High Street Court, with work by Niall OL (ig), Friz (web), Holly Pereira (web), FGB (web), Karl Fenz (web), Roo (ig), Shane Ha (web).
For Recycle Week 2021 (WRAP), Laura Nelson (ig) and Leo Boyd (web) installed a series of seven pieces (each a combination of sign-writing and paste-up) on the abandoned Fanum House, using CO2-absorbing paint (from Graphenstone) and a potato-based glue for the paste-ups. “A revolution in recycling!”
This is work by David J McMillan (web) for Queen’s Film Theatre (web), next to Cracker Wee Spot in University Square Mews/the alley behind the cinema. On one wall, we have movie-making, with clapboard and camera; on the other, the movie is projected to an audience eating popcorn.
The Bank Of Ireland building at the junction of North Street and Royal Avenue was purchased by the City Council in 2021 (Business Insider) with the intention of turning it into a visitor attraction called ‘Belfast Stories’ by 2030. The latest step in the process was a period of public consultation (BelTel). In the meantime, Leo Boyd (web) has taken over the boarded-up space that previously housed the ATM with an image of space invaders hovering over the building.
UNI Europa (web) returned to Belfast in March (2025) for its 6th annual conference with an emphasis on collective bargaining and defending democracy (reports: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3).
Hit The North returns this weekend with more than fifty street artists painting in the city centre (Seedhead Arts). The main painting session will be on Sunday between 2 and 6 around the Sunflower bar at the junction of Union Street and Kent Street.
As an apéritif many local artists painted on the “Belfast Stories” hoarding along North Street in mid-April. Shown here are the fifteen pieces produced, from left to right/north to south, by …
Conor McClure (ig) Lost Lines (ig) Ana Fish (web) Wee Nuls (web) Zippy (web) Kerrie Hanna (web) HMC (web) who painted Shiela the elephant, who was also the subject of a piece by DanLeo FGB (web) Katriona (web) Illoustrates (ig) Jacky Sheridan (web) All The Doodz (ig) KVLR (web) Kilian (ig) Graffic Belfast (ig)
For the previous art on these hoardings, see ‘Bout Ye?
