Ulster University is delighted to announce the sixth annual Art Unwrapped exhibition, a treasured holiday tradition showcasing rarely seen artworks gifted to the city of Belfast from the national collection, which was launched at an event with Belfast Lord Mayor at the Belfast campus on the afternoon of 11 December. This year the university will be exhibiting “On Through the Silent Lands” by the celebrated Irish artist Jack Butler Yeats.
Exhibition Details
- Dates: 7 December 2023 to 2 January 2024
- Location: Art Gallery, Block BC – Ulster University Belfast Campus, 2-24 York Street, Belfast, BT15 1AP
- Admission: Free, with guided interpretive tours led by Fine Art Students of Belfast School of Art. Walk-ins are welcome during our opening hours. Tickets can also be booked on Eventbrite here
Art Unwrapped 2023 invites Northern Ireland residents and visitors to immerse themselves in Yeats’ 1951 contemplative piece, “On Through the Silent Lands”. In an intimate gallery setting, attendees will explore the painting’s rich context and underlying themes, guided by students of Fine Art from the Belfast School of Art.
This initiative, a collaboration between Ulster University, Belfast City Council, and National Museums NI, has brought iconic art pieces closer to the public for the past six years. Previous years have seen artworks like Gerard Dillon’s “Innishlacken Couple” and a collection featuring Margaret Clarke and Catherine McWilliams come to the university for the Christmas period.
Kathryn Thomson, Chief Executive of National Museums NI, said: “Art Unwrapped has become a cherished and unique festive tradition for National Museums NI. It provides a unique opportunity to see a precious painting from the rich collection of art at Ulster Museum somewhere unexpected. This initiative highlights the power of working in partnership to do something different, offering everyone a rare glimpse into the Ulster Museum’s treasures and making them more accessible. We look forward to another year of sharing the joy of art with the public.”
Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Ryan Murphy said: “Art Unwrapped is a special Christmas gift to the city. Belfast City Council is delighted to have collaborated with National Museums NI and Ulster University for the sixth consecutive year on this innovative project because it’s raising both the profile and our appreciation of the visual arts. It’s fantastic to see Art Unwrapped grow in popularity and reach year on year. I’d encourage anyone who’s out and about in the city centre this festive season to call in to the stunning Ulster University Belfast campus to experience this Yeats masterpiece in person.”
Professor Cathy-Gormley Heenan, University Provost at Ulster University said: “Art Unwrapped is not just an exhibition but a celebration of art and culture during the festive season. The vision of Professor Rafaella Folli in Ulster, we are proud to continue this tradition, now in its sixth year, offering a unique opportunity for the local community to engage with and appreciate significant works of art, like the hypnotising Yeats piece we have been generously gifted this year by Ulster Museum. We welcome everyone to our campus to come appreciate this impressive work of art.”
With student-led tours and school outreach programmes designed to inspire and educate the next generation of artists and art enthusiasts, Art Unwrapped is more than just an art exhibition. Ulster University invites the public to experience this piece up close and personal this festive season.
For more information, visit: www.ulster.ac.uk/artunwrapped