A DIFFICULT TO SEE ART INSTALLATION BY BETTY NEWMAN-MAGUIRE
A DIFFICULT TO SEE ART INSTALLATION BY BETTY NEWMAN-MAGUIRE [COLLEGE WALK MILLFIELD BELFAST]
Hidden in Plain Sight: Finding Art in Belfast’s Gritty Shadows
Someone painted the wall using brown paint and also painted over the elements of the installation so I had to doctor the photographs to make the metal figures visible - in real life it is most likely that you would fail to notice the artwork as you walked by.
We often think of public art as something that shouts for attention—giant statues in the middle of squares or brightly coloured murals that dominate entire buildings. But sometimes, the most impactful art is the kind you have to really look for. The kind that whispers.
I was walking near College Avenue recently, an area of Belfast that feels like it’s in limbo. On one side, you have the glossy promise of the brand-new Belfast Grand Central Station, a shining transport hub that screams "modern city." Just a stone's throw away, however, you’re in Millfield—an area that feels a bit forgotten, a little run-down, and undeniably gritty.
It’s the kind of place you might rush through to get somewhere else. But because I was taking my time, I spotted something unexpected on a dull brick wall in College Walk.
Camouflaged against the red brick was a series of metal figures—silhouettes of people walking, cut from metal and mounted so flush to the wall they almost looked like shadows. I discovered these are the work of Betty Newman-Maguire, a prominent Irish artist, installed back in 2003.
There is something strangely touching about them. They depict ordinary people in transit—walking a dog, strolling to class, heading home. In a spot that feels industrial and hard, these figures add a permanent human presence. They’ve been painted over or weathered to the exact shade of the wall, which makes stumbling upon them feel like a secret discovery, as if the city itself is preserving the memory of the thousands of people who have walked this path before.
It was a stark reminder that urban exploration isn't just about visiting the shiny new developments. If I hadn't taken a detour through this "rougher" edge of town, I would have missed a piece of Belfast’s artistic soul.
Next time you’re near the new station, don't just look at the glass and steel. Take a walk down the side streets. You might find that the walls are watching you back.
Next Step for You - If you enjoy finding these "hidden" artworks, the next time you are in Victoria Park (East Belfast), look for Newman-Maguire's "Flight of Geese." It uses similar metalwork but depicts birds taking flight from the water—it’s a great companion piece to the urban figures you found in Millfield.
Hidden in Plain Sight: Finding Art in Belfast’s Gritty Shadows
Someone painted the wall using brown paint and also painted over the elements of the installation so I had to doctor the photographs to make the metal figures visible - in real life it is most likely that you would fail to notice the artwork as you walked by.
We often think of public art as something that shouts for attention—giant statues in the middle of squares or brightly coloured murals that dominate entire buildings. But sometimes, the most impactful art is the kind you have to really look for. The kind that whispers.
I was walking near College Avenue recently, an area of Belfast that feels like it’s in limbo. On one side, you have the glossy promise of the brand-new Belfast Grand Central Station, a shining transport hub that screams "modern city." Just a stone's throw away, however, you’re in Millfield—an area that feels a bit forgotten, a little run-down, and undeniably gritty.
It’s the kind of place you might rush through to get somewhere else. But because I was taking my time, I spotted something unexpected on a dull brick wall in College Walk.
Camouflaged against the red brick was a series of metal figures—silhouettes of people walking, cut from metal and mounted so flush to the wall they almost looked like shadows. I discovered these are the work of Betty Newman-Maguire, a prominent Irish artist, installed back in 2003.
There is something strangely touching about them. They depict ordinary people in transit—walking a dog, strolling to class, heading home. In a spot that feels industrial and hard, these figures add a permanent human presence. They’ve been painted over or weathered to the exact shade of the wall, which makes stumbling upon them feel like a secret discovery, as if the city itself is preserving the memory of the thousands of people who have walked this path before.
It was a stark reminder that urban exploration isn't just about visiting the shiny new developments. If I hadn't taken a detour through this "rougher" edge of town, I would have missed a piece of Belfast’s artistic soul.
Next time you’re near the new station, don't just look at the glass and steel. Take a walk down the side streets. You might find that the walls are watching you back.
Next Step for You - If you enjoy finding these "hidden" artworks, the next time you are in Victoria Park (East Belfast), look for Newman-Maguire's "Flight of Geese." It uses similar metalwork but depicts birds taking flight from the water—it’s a great companion piece to the urban figures you found in Millfield.
BETTY NEWMAN-MAGUIRE