Colin Middleton was born in Belfast in 1910, a city then at the very height of its industrial, economic and social expansion. The artist lived, worked and painted in Belfast almost continuously until 1947, all while the city survived the Great Depression, the Second World War and the Belfast Blitz, as well as episodes of social unrest. In the 1930s and 1940s, Colin Middleton established a reputation as arguably the most progressive artist working in Ireland. He quickly came to be regarded as one of the leading Irish painters of his generation.
This exhibition features paintings and drawings spanning six decades, drawn from private lenders and the National Museums NI collections. It examines Middleton's complex relationship with Belfast, particularly the ongoing significance of his early career as a damask designer and the manner in which it shaped his development as an artist. This exhibition also looks at how Middleton's powerful vision of Belfast and its inhabitants, provided a radical visual response to the city during this tumultuous period.
Venue: Ulster Museum, Stranmillis Road, Botanic Gardens, Belfast
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