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List of public art in Belfast facts for kids

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Belfast, a lively city in Northern Ireland, is like a giant outdoor art gallery! All around the city, you can find amazing public art. This includes cool sculptures, statues, monuments, and even mosaics. These artworks are out in the open for everyone to enjoy, not hidden away in museums. If you're curious about the famous murals in Belfast, you can find more information in the article about Murals in Northern Ireland.

Cool Art in Belfast City Centre

The heart of Belfast is full of interesting artworks. Here are some you might spot:

Twenty to eight in the clock tower of the Albert Memorial
The historic Albert Memorial Clock, a famous landmark in Belfast.

This tall clock tower is a well-known landmark in Belfast. It was built a long time ago in 1870.

  • Thanksgiving Square Beacon
    • Location: Thanksgiving Square (Belfast)
    • Date: 2007
    • Artist: Andy Scott
    • Type: Abstract sculpture
    • Material: Metal
Belfast (144), October 2009
The Beacon of Hope, a tall, shining sculpture in Thanksgiving Square.

This large, shiny metal sculpture is a symbol of hope for the city. It's sometimes called "Nuala with the Hula" by locals because of its shape!

  • The Masts
    • Location: Donegall Place
    • Date: 2011
    • Type: 8 masts
    • Material: Copper
Donegall Place, Belfast, February 2011 (01)
Eight copper masts stand tall in Donegall Place.

These eight tall copper masts are named after famous ships built in Belfast by Harland and Wolff, like the Titanic and Olympic.

  • The Big Fish
    • Location: Donegall Quay
    • Date: 1999
    • Artist: John Kindness
    • Type: Ceramic sculpture
    • Material: Stone
Bigfish Belfast closeup
The Big Fish, covered in ceramic tiles telling stories of Belfast.

This huge fish sculpture is covered in ceramic tiles. Each tile tells a story about Belfast's history. It's a really colourful and unique piece!

  • Monument to the Unknown Woman Worker
    • Location: Great Victoria Street
    • Date: 1992
    • Artist: Louise Walsh
    • Type: Sculpture group
    • Material: Bronze
Monument to the unknown woman worker, Belfast - geograph.org.uk - 911136
A sculpture group honouring the hard work of women in Belfast.

This sculpture honours the many women who worked hard in Belfast's industries throughout history.

Sheep on the Road Belfast
Bronze sheep sculptures outside the Waterfront Hall.

You'll find these fun bronze sheep sculptures near the Waterfront Hall. They were moved here in 1999.

  • The Barrel Man
    • Location: Lanyon Place
    • Date: 1997
    • Artist: Ross Wilson
    • Type: Statue
    • Material: Bronze
The "Barrel Man", Belfast (1) - geograph.org.uk - 962770
The Barrel Man statue, also known as 'The Ulster Brewer'.

This bronze statue is also known as 'The Ulster Brewer'.

  • Henry Cooke
    • Location: Wellington Place
    • Date: 1876
    • Artist: Samuel Ferris Lynn
    • Type: Statue on pedestal
    • Material: Bronze and stone
Rev Henry Cooke, Belfast - geograph.org.uk - 1746369
A statue of Reverend Henry Cooke.
  • The Buoys
    • Location: York Street / Donegall Street
    • Date: Pre 1979
    • Type: 3 Buoys
    • Material: Metal
University of Ulster, Belfast, May 2012 (02)
Old navigation buoys displayed to show Belfast's maritime history.

These are old navigation buoys that were given to Belfast City Council. They remind us of Belfast's strong connection to the sea.

Art Around Belfast City Hall

Belfast City Hall is not just a beautiful building; its grounds are home to many important statues and memorials.

  • The Cenotaph
    • Location: Belfast City Hall
    • Date: 1929
    • Artist: Sir Alfred Brumwell Thomas
    • Type: Cenotaph
    • Material: Stone
Belfast, the cenotaph - geograph.org.uk - 611322
The Cenotaph, a memorial at Belfast City Hall.

This memorial honours those who lost their lives in wars.

  • Queen Victoria
    • Location: Belfast City Hall
    • Date: 1903
    • Artist: Sir Thomas Brock
    • Type: Statue on pedestal with supporting figures
    • Material: Stone and bronze
Queen Victoria Belfast 2
A grand statue of Queen Victoria.

A large statue of Queen Victoria stands proudly on the City Hall grounds.

  • Titanic Memorial
    • Location: Belfast City Hall
    • Date: 1920
    • Artist: Sir Thomas Brock
    • Type: Statue group on pedestal
    • Material: Stone
Titanic Memorial Belfast
The Titanic Memorial, remembering those lost on the ship.

This memorial remembers the people who died when the Titanic sank.

  • Sir Edward James Harland
    • Location: Belfast City Hall
    • Date: 1903
    • Artist: Sir Thomas Brock
    • Type: Statue on pedestal
Edward James Harland Belfast
A statue of Sir Edward James Harland, who helped found the Harland and Wolff shipyard.

Sir Edward James Harland was one of the founders of the famous Harland and Wolff shipyard, where the Titanic was built.

  • The 1st Viscount Pirrie
    • Location: Belfast City Hall
    • Date: 1924
    • Artist: Bertram Pergram
    • Type: Bust on pedestal
    • Material: Bronze
William James Pirrie Belfast
A bronze bust of William Pirrie, a key figure in Belfast's shipbuilding history.

Lord Pirrie was another important person in Belfast's shipbuilding history. His bust was moved to City Hall in 2006.

  • Boer War memorial
    • Location: Belfast City Hall
    • Date: 1905
    • Artist: Sydney March
    • Type: Statue group on pedestal with plaques
    • Material: Stone and bronze
Royal Irish Rifles Belfast
A memorial dedicated to the Boer War.
  • Korean War memorial
    • Location: Belfast City Hall
    • Date: 1951
Korean War memorial, Belfast - geograph.org.uk - 836354
The Korean War memorial, moved to Belfast City Hall in 2010.

This memorial was originally in Korea and then moved to Ballymena before finding its home at Belfast City Hall in 2010.

Art in South Belfast

South Belfast is the area south of the main railway line, including places like Queen's University Belfast and the Botanic Gardens.

Lord Kelvin, Botanic park Belfast
A statue of Lord Kelvin in the Botanic Gardens.

Lord Kelvin was a very famous scientist and engineer from Belfast.

  • New metal piece
    • Location: Ulster Museum
    • Date: 1978
    • Artist: Barry Flanagan
    • Type: Abstract sculpture
    • Material: Metal
Ulster Museum sculpture
An abstract metal sculpture outside the Ulster Museum.
  • Belfast Wheel
    • Location: King William Park
    • Type: Sculpture
    • Material: Bronze
Belfast Wheel
The Belfast Wheel sculpture, showing different parts of the city.

This sculpture is made of 12 parts, and each part shows a different area of Belfast.

Ella Pirrie statue, Belfast City Hospital - geograph.org.uk - 939600
A statue of Ella Pirrie at Belfast City Hospital.
  • Mother - Daughter - Sister
    • Location: Sandy Row
    • Date: 2015
    • Artist: Ross Wilson
    • Type: Statue
    • Material: Bronze
'Mother - Daughter - Sister' - Women in Community - Sandy Row, South Belfast
A statue celebrating women in the community.
  • Sweet Water Arch
    • Location: Stranmillis, Belfast
    • Date: 2009
    • Artist: Denis O'Connor
    • Type: Sculpture
    • Material: Stainless steel
Stranmillis sculpture, Belfast, May 2010 (02)
The Sweet Water Arch sculpture in Stranmillis.

The name "Stranmillis" comes from an old Irish name meaning "sweet stream," which this sculpture celebrates.

Art at Queen's University

Queen's University Belfast has some interesting art pieces on its campus.

  • War memorial
    • Location: Queen's University Belfast
    • Date: 1924
    • Artist: Sir Thomas Brock
    • Type: Statue group on pedestal with plaques
    • Material: Bronze and stone
Belfast (465), October 2009
The war memorial at Queen's University Belfast.
  • Reclining Figure
    • Location: Queen's University Belfast
    • Date: 1958
    • Artist: Frederick Edward McWilliam
    • Type: Sculpture
    • Material: Bronze
Reclining Figure, by Frederick Edward McWilliam
The "Reclining Figure" sculpture.
  • Eco
    • Location: McClay Library, Queen's University Belfast
    • Date: 2008
    • Artist: Marc Didou
    • Type: Sculpture
Belfast (414), October 2009
The "Eco" sculpture outside the McClay Library.

Art in East Belfast

East Belfast is the area east of the River Lagan, including the famous Titanic Quarter and the Stormont Estate.

  • Titanica
    • Location: Titanic Centre
    • Date: 2012
    • Artist: Rowan Gillespie
    • Type: Sculpture on pedestal
    • Material: Bronze
Opening Day, Titanic Belfast, 31 March 2012 (11)
The "Titanica" sculpture near the Titanic Centre.
  • Titanic Kit
    • Location: Titanic Quarter
    • Date: 2009
    • Artist: Tony Stallard
    • Type: Sculpture
    • Material: Bronze
Titanic Quarter apartments and sculpture, Belfast, April 2010 (02)
The "Titanic Kit" sculpture, resembling a model kit.

This sculpture looks like a model kit for a ship, celebrating Belfast's shipbuilding heritage.

  • Titanic Yardmen 401
    • Location: Newtownards Road
    • Date: 2012
    • Artist: Ross Wilson
    • Type: Sculpture
'The Yardmen' Titanic Community Centenary Project, East Belfast
The "Titanic Yardmen 401" sculpture.
  • The Searcher, C. S. Lewis
    • Location: C. S. Lewis Square
    • Date: 2016
    • Artist: Ross Wilson
    • Type: Statue group
    • Material: Bronze
Statue of C.S. Lewis, Belfast
A statue group of C.S. Lewis and characters from his stories.

This statue group celebrates the famous author C. S. Lewis, who was born in Belfast, and characters from his Narnia books.

  • The Longbridge Stone
    • Location: Albertbridge Road and Castlereagh Street
    • Date: 1831
    • Material: Stone
The Longbridge stone, Belfast - geograph.org.uk - 1752353
The Longbridge Stone, a remnant of an old bridge.

This stone is said to be the last piece of the old Long Bridge that once crossed the River Lagan.

  • The Baron Carson
    • Location: Stormont Estate
    • Date: 1933
    • Artist: Leonard Stanford Merrifield
    • Type: Statue on pedestal
    • Material: Bronze and stone
Carson monument - panoramio
A statue of Baron Carson at Stormont Estate.

Art in West Belfast

West Belfast is known for areas like the Falls Road and the Shankill Road. This area is famous for its murals, which are discussed in a separate article.

  • James Connolly
    • Location: Falls Road
    • Date: 2016
    • Artist: Steve Feeny
    • Type: Statue on pedestal
    • Material: Bronze and stone
James Connolly statue, Belfast
A statue of James Connolly on Falls Road.
  • RISE
    • Location: Broadway Roundabout, A12
    • Date: 2011
    • Artist: Wolfgang Buttress
    • Type: Abstract sculpture
Rise Belfast
The "RISE" sculpture, a large abstract artwork.

This large, abstract sculpture is a prominent feature at the Broadway Roundabout.

  • Clonard Martyrs Memorial
    • Location: Bombay Street
    • Date: 2000
    • Type: Celtic wheel cross
    • Material: Stone
Clonard Martyrs Memorial (41210907795)
The Clonard Martyrs Memorial, a Celtic wheel cross.
  • Garden of Remembrance
    • Location: Falls Road
    • Date: 2001
Republican memorial garden - panoramio
The Garden of Remembrance on Falls Road.
Bayardo Bar attack Belfast Irland@20160528
The Bayardo Bomb Memorial on Shankill Road.
  • William Conor
    • Location: Shankill Road
    • Date: 2015
    • Type: Statue
    • Material: Bronze
William Conor statue Belfast 2023-05-24 2
A bronze statue of artist William Conor.

This statue honours William Conor, a famous artist from Belfast.

  • The Millie
    • Location: Crumlin Road
    • Date: 2010
    • Artist: Ross Wilson
    • Type: Bronze
Milly
The Millie statue, honouring female linen mill workers.

This statue remembers the many women who worked in Belfast's linen mills.

See also

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List of public art in Belfast Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.