The Best Public Art In Belfast

Belfast is famous for its colourful murals decorating the walls of West and East Belfast, illustrating a conflict of more than 100 years between Northern Irish Nationalists and Unionists. However, the impressive range of art reaches beyond the political, as Belfast becomes the vibrant upcoming city of the North. Check out this list of the top public art you can find in the city.

1. Eco, McClay Library

Library, Park, University

Queens University Belfast McClay Library, Belfast

Eco sits at the entrance to Queen’s University library, the McClay. This bronze statue stands 2.5 metres (8.2 feet) tall; the use of refraction explains its strange reflection. The reflected face represents the image of a head in water, which becomes refracted by light, while also nodding to the use of sonic echo in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The sculpture was unveiled in 2009, alongside the opening of the McClay Library, a £40 million centre for Queen’s University, Belfast.

2. The Buoys

Cathedral, Church, Historical Landmark

The Cathedral Gardens have been home to the Belfast Buoys since 1980, representing Belfast’s rich maritime history and influence. In the last 40 years, the Buoys have been repainted three times, decorated with various art and flash knitting groups. They remain a symbol of Belfast’s connection with the sea, the RMS Titanic and the rest of the world.