Art Exhibitions

by Art Now Database

Belfast

THE MAC

On now

  • Reconstructions: A Room for Mike Kelley is a series of collaborative works by artists Mary McIntyre & Robert Anderson, made in response to live performances by the late artist Mike Kelley (1954 –2012) produced during the late 1970’s and early 1990’s. When artists Mary McIntyre and Robert Anderson first encountered the performance works of Mike Kelley (1954 – 2012) it was through a series of small black and white photographs. Disconnected from their original context, Kelley’s performance documentation constituted a bemusing series of images, which left them intrigued. The discovery of these photographs led McIntyre and Anderson to a growing fascination with the act of recording the 'live event' and how a photograph, with the primary function of faithfully documenting such an event, when divorced from context or supporting information, can take on an altogether different set of possibilities. It is that proposition which forms the basis for their collaborative project, ‘Reconstructions: A Room for Mike Kelley’. Over a period of 10 years, McIntyre and Anderson have studied Kelley’s performance documentation and set about meticulously reconstructing the studio environments in which Kelley enacted his live works, from the basic plywood door that sits ajar, to the exact positioning of an odd collection of objects that lie strewn on the studio floor. These objects, constructed to mimic those found in Kelley’s performance documentation, which range from the strange to the familiar, from the plausible to the bizarre, act as potential cultural signifiers that can be read as both significant and mundane. However, in McIntyre and Anderson’s series of reconstructions, the figurative elements present in Kelley’s performance documentation, have been omitted. Without a protagonist, their possible interpretation has been left deliberately open to allow for fluid shifts in meaning, depending on their perceived status, cultural context or individual readings stemming from viewer experience. In ‘Reconstructions: A Room for Mike Kelley’, McIntyre and Anderson present an empty stage, ready to come alive with myriad fictional histories, potential narratives and associations, made possible in the viewer’s imagination.
    Description

    Mary McIntyre & Robert Anderson Reconstructions: A Room for Mike Kelley

    Until 18 Oct 2026

    Mary McIntyre & Robert Anderson Reconstructions: A Room for Mike Kelley at THE MAC, Belfast
  • A Feeling in the Blood by Belfast based artist and fiddle player Susan Hughes is an exhibition across a range of media including video, sculpture and installation. Susan has travelled across Ireland having conversations with musicians, dancers, singers, researchers and archivists gathering stories from the rich and complex world of Irish music, song and dance. This exhibition presents some of the mystery, myth, obsession and collective transcendence she has encountered along the way. A Feeling in the Blood is programmed to coincide with Belfast Trad Fest and Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann and is a fluid, participatory and collaborative space. Displayed within the exhibition are a range of loaned objects from members of the public who responded to a call for artefacts and belongings which had a history relating to a personal experience of traditional Irish music over the years. Also present is a purpose-built stage which will be activated by ad-hoc performances by visiting musicians to the Fleadh, as well as a curated programme of performances throughout the run of the exhibition. The title ‘A Feeling in the Blood’ is sourced from an archival recording of fiddle player Néillidh Boyle from Dungloe, Co. Donegal. “If you notice every note seems to have a sad, a crying effect. That note has to be embellished. It’s done with a slight grace note which can’t be seen with the movement of the fingers. It’s done with a feeling in the blood. It can’t, this thing can’t be written and it’s very hard to explain it on paper.” (1953)
    Description

    Susan Hughes - A Feeling in the Blood

    Until 18 Oct 2026

    Susan Hughes - A Feeling in the Blood at THE MAC, Belfast
Recent past exhibitions
  • The MAC Live is pleased to present the Summer Show, a group exhibition featuring works by emerging and established artists from around the world. The show will include paintings, sculptures, installations, and multimedia pieces that explore a wide range of themes and styles.
    Description

    The MAC Live: Summer Show

    Ended 30 Sept 2026

  • Come along to a Queer Set Dancing class with Alexa Moore. This is a relaxed, friendly class as part of our MACtivate programme, run with The Rainbow Project. It’s perfect for beginners and open to everyone. The class runs from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. No dance skills needed. Just bring yourself. You can drop in when it suits you and don’t have to come every time. The class is led by a queer woman and is a welcoming space for LGBTQ+ people and allies. Expect laughs, learning and a chance to meet new people. Alexa Moore is a human rights worker and set dancer from Newry, Co. Down. She began set dancing in 2013 and is passionate about keeping the dance alive by expanding it to new people and communities. In her day job, she works on human rights issues relating to Brexit, the Protocol, and other issues in NI.
    Description

    Queer Set Dancing

    Ended 25 Jun 2026

  • Lost Paintings: A Prelude to Return

    Ended 29 Mar 2026

  • Dark Forest Theatre is proud to present ‘I, She, Medusa’ Written by Nathan Martin and Directed by Nathan Martin and Heather McCaskill. ‘I will not be silenced. I will not be forced to retreat, to fall, too falter. I will not have my voice stifled in my throat, fearing the consequences of the words that flow freely from it. The river of my voice flows across the barren land of men’s ears. Who pick up the words only to cast off what they deem is inferior.’ Medusa – ‘I, She, Medusa’ Compelled to remain within her gilded prison, Medusa is trapped. To escape her reality, she retreats into games, stories, and make-believe, her only visitor the god Hermes, who humours her desires. But in the distance, the ticking of a clock grows louder — counting down to zero. Her prison begins to fracture, exposing a surreal and terrifying world beneath the surface. This piece was created to highlight the ongoing crisis of violence against women in Northern Ireland. It seeks to give voice to those we have lost and to honour the strength and resilience of those who endure. ‘I, She, Medusa’ is an original and fictional piece created in remembrance to all the women in Northern Ireland who have been taken from us. A portion of all tickets sold will be donated to Womens Aid Belfast and literature will be provided after the show. Further information can be found at Further information on the company can be found at
    Description

    I, She, Medusa

    Ended 27 Feb 2026