Craft NI

In The Making
2026-01-20 10:00 - 2026-02-27 17:00 (Europe/London) | Oriel Gallery, Clotworthy House,, Antrim Castle Gardens, Antrim, BT41 4LH, United Kingdom
County Antrim Open Studios is excited to announce that their 2nd exhibition, In The Making, will be held in the beautiful Oriel Gallery at Clotworthy House, Antrim Castle Gardens, BT41 4LH.
Running from 20th of January to 27th February 2026, the exhibition will feature works from ten CAOS members: Audrey Kyle Art, Denise McAuley – Moneyvart Ceramics, Heather McFadden – Gobbins Crafts, Jane Lloyd – Textile Arts, Judith Logan – Art, Lorna Shannon – Weaver, Paul Burch – Ceramics & Sculpture, Paul Jordan – Art & Ceramics, Raymond Watson – Multimedia Art, Rosanne Cecil – Willow Leaves Handmade Books.

MATERIAL ALCHEMY
2026-02-05 10:00 - 2026-05-01 17:00 | Craft NI Gallery, 115 - 119 Royal Ave, Belfast, BT1 1FF, United Kingdom
MATERIAL ALCHEMY, an exhibition by mixed media artist Sarah Cathers, opens at Craft NI Gallery on February 5th, Late Night Art!

The exhibition celebrates the process of fostering curiosity and indulging in play. Intrigued by the parallels connecting the work of an artist and an alchemist, Sarah explores the art of transformation; documenting the journey of finding a curious object, experimenting with its properties and potential, and working towards a ‘eureka!’ moment.

Alchemy is the process of converting base metals into gold. Similarly, Sarah works with seemingly worthless, discarded materials, altering them to create treasured artefacts.

“A naturally curious collector, I mend and combine matter, assembling small sculptures, juxtaposing the unlikely to create a tangible record of the environment and people. I curate objects of intrigue in ‘families’ based on an instinctive response or relationship between materials. Fascinated by adhesives and their ability to secure and fasten, I focus on the binding capabilities of thread, using fibres to document and repair. I aim to preserve an object’s history, acknowledging the past while recognising new potential. Like an alchemist, I indulge in the process of measuring out and combining different quantities of substances, in the hope of striking gold.”

In this exhibition, Sarah explores a range of responses to found objects, celebrating the instinctive creative process that can (if lucky) yield exciting reactions and unexpected results for the alchemist.

For the love of dog (and other creatures)
2026-02-14 09:30 - 2026-03-28 17:00 | Flowerfield Arts Centre, 185 Coleraine Road, Portstewart, BT55 7HU, United Kingdom
Eleanor Wheeler’s work explores the deep interconnection between humans, animals, and the natural world, drawing on symbolism, metaphor, and the storytelling traditions of myth and folklore. Animals appear as recurring figures – symbolic, emotive, and often occupying the space between the wild and the domestic. Through dynamic ceramic forms and richly textured surfaces, the artist examines themes of transformation, instinct, and the balance between control and surrender. Elemental forces—wind, weather, movement— are integral to both her subject matter and her process, mirroring the unpredictable nature of working with clay at scale.

Associated Workshop
Animal Tiles for 18+ yrs | Saturday 28 February | 10am-4pm

Gormleys x USWA
2026-03-07 10:00 - 2026-03-21 17:00 | Gormleys Gallery Belfast, 471 Lisburn Rd, Belfast, BT9 7EZ, United Kingdom
This exhibition, organised by Gormleys Gallery in support of the Ulster Society of Women Artists, showcases the work of Jenny Hamilton, Hannah Ferguson, Louise Lennon, and Ruth Edens. Though distinct in medium and approach, each artist shares a deep connection to nature and place.
Those interested in ceramics in particular will enjoy Hannah Ferguson’s terracotta vessels, carved using sgraffito, which draw on her printmaking background and the folk traditions of Northern Irish craft.

BLUNTING
2026-03-12 18:30 - 2026-03-15 17:00 | Portview Trade Centre, 310 Newtonards Rd, Belfast, BT4 1HE, United Kingdom
Stephanie Noble and Patrick Colhoun introduce ‘BLUNTING’, a mixed media exhibition exploring the difficulty of existing in the world as it is and some of the various mechanisms we use to cope. Using a combination of painting and contemporary sculpture the artists invite viewers on a journey exploring the changed perceptions of reality that can come with medicating with prescription and non-prescription substances.
The exhibition showcases both collaborative and individual pieces with each of the artists stepping outside their respective comfort zones. This collaboration takes the sublime and calm oasis of Stephanie Noble’s landscapes and the dystopian nightmare of Patrick Colhoun’s ceramic Black Dogs and combines them, subverting the normal rules of what one would expect to see from these artists in their individual practices.

The exhibition opens March 12th at 6:30pm at Block B, Floor 2, Portview Trade Centre, 310 Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 1HE
About the artists:
Stephanie Noble: www.stephanienoble.co.uk Stephanie Noble has exhibited extensively both nationally and internationally including Royal Academy Annual Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy Annual Exhibition, Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition and Ballinglen biennial exhibition of art. Her landscapes are held in private collections worldwide.
Patrick Colhoun: www.patrickcolhoun.com Patrick Colhoun uses the term ‘Anti-ceramics’ to best describe his work. A traditional craft but done in a very different way. Colhoun has exhibited internationally and his work is held in numerous collections including the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Private Collection. He is a member of the Royal Society of Sculptors.

Silver Generations
2026-04-18 10:00 - 2026-05-23 17:00 | Island Arts Centre, The Island, Lisburn, BT27 4RL, United Kingdom
Silver Generations is a special exhibition featuring work from Michael McCrory, Deirdre McCrory, Cara Murphy and Caitlin Murphy.
Three generations of applied artists with over 170 years of combined experience and expertise come together. This exhibition celebrates a unique family immersed in the world of silversmithing and jewellery, showcasing how each generation has forged its own creative path.
The exhibition will be opened by Katherine McDonald, Director of Craft NI.
Join the exhibiting artists for drinks at the exhibition preview on Sat 18 April, 2-4pm.

A Hand In Nature
2026-05-07 08:00 - 2026-06-26 17:00 | Craft NI Gallery, 115 - 119 Royal Ave, Belfast, BT1 1FF, United Kingdom
Craft NI is delighted to announce ‘A Hand In Nature’ will run at Craft NI Gallery May 7 – June 26, 2026.
After a successful exhibition at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks in Dublin last year, nine talented silversmiths and jewellers will now share with NI audiences innovative works which highlight the connection between the natural world and the art of making.
The exhibition features new contemporary art metalwork and jewellery that honour the elements and ecosystems that make their existence possible. Silversmith Eva Lynch coined the term Anthropoware to describe objects that are designed to remind us of our inextricable connection to the natural world. Through use of materials, design aesthetic, function or underlying narrative these objects tell a story about the ecological and cultural impact of their development.
Alongside Lynch, eight prominent makers also responded to the theme: NI silversmiths Cara Murphy and Stuart Cairns; Irish artists Eimear Conyard, Clodagh Molloy, Cecilia Moore, Cara Murphy, Cóilín Ó Dubhghaill, Angela O’Kelly, and also welcoming Wales-based Finnish maker Rauni Higson. Their pieces challenge the viewer to think beyond the object and to consider the impact of their material choices.

Colin and Sylvia Dales exhibition
2026-05-23 10:00 - 2026-06-21 17:00 | WWT Castle Espie, 78 Ballydrain Rd, Comber, Newtownards, BT23 6EA
Ceramicist Sylvia Dales will exhibit work alongside her husband, Colin Dales, who is a contemporary abstract painter. Sylvia works with earthenware and traditional techniques such as terra sigillata and smoke firing; her beautifully crafted pieces are influenced by Etruscan and Korean pottery, creating a powerful connection between past and present.
Colin brings a unique approach to painting, shaped by his background in fine art restoration. His layered, textured works explore time, erosion and structure, with recent inspiration drawn from water and light at Castle Espie.
The exhibition will take place in the Graffan Gallery at Castle Espie; free entrance to the exhibition but fees apply to see Castle Espie.
