EXAMPLES OF STREET ART ALONG SHAFTESBURY AVENUE AND GREAT VICTORIA STREET
EXAMPLES OF STREET ART ALONG SHAFTESBURY AVENUE AND GREAT VICTORIA STREET [BELFAST DECEMBER 2025]
The street art along Great Victoria Street and Shaftesbury Square (often colloquially referred to as the "Golden Mile") has undergone a massive transformation recently.
Historically, this area was known for traditional political murals or urban decay, but a regeneration initiative called "Great Expectations" (led by the Linen Quarter BID) has replaced grey walls and hoardings with vibrant, large-scale contemporary art.
The following guide details the key murals you will see walking from Belfast City Centre up Great Victoria Street toward Shaftesbury Square.
1. Great Victoria Street
This street is now home to some of the most significant modern street art in the city, moving away from sectarian themes toward celebration of culture, music, and diversity.
"Connected" by Aches
Location: The gable wall of the Holiday Inn (Hope Street junction).
The Piece: This is arguably the current centrepiece of the area. It is a massive portrait (often cited as the largest mural on the island of Ireland) featuring overlaying colours in a "glitch" style.
Meaning: Painted by Dublin artist Aches, it celebrates the diversity of the people who live and work in the Linen Quarter. The "glitch" effect is a signature of the artist, representing the intersection of digital and physical lives.
The "Good Vibrations" / Punk Murals
Location: Lower Great Victoria Street (near the site of the original Good Vibrations record shop).
The Piece: A series of vibrant, chaotic, and colourful panels spanning several shopfronts.
Meaning: These pay homage to Terri Hooley, the "Godfather of Belfast Punk," and his legendary record shop which once stood here. The murals celebrate the anti-sectarian nature of the punk movement in 1970s Belfast, where punks crossed religious divides to enjoy music. I actually have a photograph of Terry - I met him on one of my first visits to Belfast.
Artists: A collaboration including local artists Zippy, Not Pop, Alana McDowell, and Rob Hilken.
"Flying High" by Annatomix
Location: The side of the Hope Fellowship Church.
The Piece: A geometric, origami-style depiction of birds in flight.
Meaning: The birds depicted are migratory species, symbolising the multicultural congregation of the church and the diverse communities that have made Belfast their home.
"Great Victoria Forest"
Location: Gap site/hoarding near Downshire Place.
The Piece: A lush, green, forest-inspired mural by artist Visual Waste.
Context: This was created to improve a "gap site" (an empty lot) and highlights urban ecology, adding a splash of nature to a concrete-heavy street.
2. Shaftesbury Square
Note: Some accounts that I have seen mention Shaftesbury Avenue but the major mural hub in this area is Shaftesbury Square, the junction at the top of Great Victoria Street. (Shaftesbury Avenue is a residential street in the Ormeau area).
"The Salmon of Knowledge" by Veks Van Hillik
Location: The former Ulster Bank building (a dominant limestone building in the square).
The Piece: A surreal, dreamlike image of a fish (a salmon) with human-like eyes and fantastical elements.
Meaning: This is a contemporary twist on the Irish mythological tale of the Salmon of Knowledge (Bradán Feasa). The French artist, Veks Van Hillik, blends this ancient Celtic legend with a surrealist, pop-culture aesthetic. It is one of the newest and most photographed additions to the square.
The "Airborne Men" (Historical Note)
Location: Formerly on the wall of the Ulster Bank. This has been replaced by the Salmon of Knowledge (Bradán Feasa)
Status: Removed.
Context: For decades, this wall was famous for the "Flying Figures" (Airborne Men) sculptures by Dame Elisabeth Frink. They were recently removed for preservation and gifted to the Ulster Museum. The new street art in the square helps fill the artistic void left by their departure.
Summary of Artists & Initiatives
Linen Quarter BID (Business Improvement District): The organisation largely responsible for commissioning these works to regenerate the "Golden Mile."
Hit the North: Belfast’s premier street art festival (run by Seedhead Arts) often facilitates these large-scale commissions.
Key Artists: Aches (Dublin), Veks Van Hillik (France), Visual Waste (Belfast), Zippy (Belfast).
The street art along Great Victoria Street and Shaftesbury Square (often colloquially referred to as the "Golden Mile") has undergone a massive transformation recently.
Historically, this area was known for traditional political murals or urban decay, but a regeneration initiative called "Great Expectations" (led by the Linen Quarter BID) has replaced grey walls and hoardings with vibrant, large-scale contemporary art.
The following guide details the key murals you will see walking from Belfast City Centre up Great Victoria Street toward Shaftesbury Square.
1. Great Victoria Street
This street is now home to some of the most significant modern street art in the city, moving away from sectarian themes toward celebration of culture, music, and diversity.
"Connected" by Aches
Location: The gable wall of the Holiday Inn (Hope Street junction).
The Piece: This is arguably the current centrepiece of the area. It is a massive portrait (often cited as the largest mural on the island of Ireland) featuring overlaying colours in a "glitch" style.
Meaning: Painted by Dublin artist Aches, it celebrates the diversity of the people who live and work in the Linen Quarter. The "glitch" effect is a signature of the artist, representing the intersection of digital and physical lives.
The "Good Vibrations" / Punk Murals
Location: Lower Great Victoria Street (near the site of the original Good Vibrations record shop).
The Piece: A series of vibrant, chaotic, and colourful panels spanning several shopfronts.
Meaning: These pay homage to Terri Hooley, the "Godfather of Belfast Punk," and his legendary record shop which once stood here. The murals celebrate the anti-sectarian nature of the punk movement in 1970s Belfast, where punks crossed religious divides to enjoy music. I actually have a photograph of Terry - I met him on one of my first visits to Belfast.
Artists: A collaboration including local artists Zippy, Not Pop, Alana McDowell, and Rob Hilken.
"Flying High" by Annatomix
Location: The side of the Hope Fellowship Church.
The Piece: A geometric, origami-style depiction of birds in flight.
Meaning: The birds depicted are migratory species, symbolising the multicultural congregation of the church and the diverse communities that have made Belfast their home.
"Great Victoria Forest"
Location: Gap site/hoarding near Downshire Place.
The Piece: A lush, green, forest-inspired mural by artist Visual Waste.
Context: This was created to improve a "gap site" (an empty lot) and highlights urban ecology, adding a splash of nature to a concrete-heavy street.
2. Shaftesbury Square
Note: Some accounts that I have seen mention Shaftesbury Avenue but the major mural hub in this area is Shaftesbury Square, the junction at the top of Great Victoria Street. (Shaftesbury Avenue is a residential street in the Ormeau area).
"The Salmon of Knowledge" by Veks Van Hillik
Location: The former Ulster Bank building (a dominant limestone building in the square).
The Piece: A surreal, dreamlike image of a fish (a salmon) with human-like eyes and fantastical elements.
Meaning: This is a contemporary twist on the Irish mythological tale of the Salmon of Knowledge (Bradán Feasa). The French artist, Veks Van Hillik, blends this ancient Celtic legend with a surrealist, pop-culture aesthetic. It is one of the newest and most photographed additions to the square.
The "Airborne Men" (Historical Note)
Location: Formerly on the wall of the Ulster Bank. This has been replaced by the Salmon of Knowledge (Bradán Feasa)
Status: Removed.
Context: For decades, this wall was famous for the "Flying Figures" (Airborne Men) sculptures by Dame Elisabeth Frink. They were recently removed for preservation and gifted to the Ulster Museum. The new street art in the square helps fill the artistic void left by their departure.
Summary of Artists & Initiatives
Linen Quarter BID (Business Improvement District): The organisation largely responsible for commissioning these works to regenerate the "Golden Mile."
Hit the North: Belfast’s premier street art festival (run by Seedhead Arts) often facilitates these large-scale commissions.
Key Artists: Aches (Dublin), Veks Van Hillik (France), Visual Waste (Belfast), Zippy (Belfast).
STREET ART AT SHAFTESBURY SQUARE