Over 15,000 visit Lucian Freud Exhibition in first three months

Titanic Belfast has revealed that it has attracted over 15,000 visitors in just three months to view its free exhibition celebrating the work of Lucian Freud which is running in collaboration with the V&A. 

Since May, 86 per cent of this art exhibition’s visitors came to Titanic Belfast specifically to see Lucian Freud’s Etchings: A Creative Collaboration which includes over 60 of the renowned artist’s famous etchings as well as a unique immersive experience created by the world-famous attraction. 

In this time, it has attracted visitors from around the world including America, Australia, China, Canada, Germany, Poland and Spain. 

Judith Owens MBE, Chief Executive of Titanic Belfast said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the response to the exhibition which includes the collection: Lucian Freud’s Etchings: A Creative Collaboration. Attracting over 15,000 visitors in just three months is a remarkable achievement and it highlights the global appeal of both the artist and Titanic Belfast as a cultural hub. 

The exhibition has not only attracted a diverse international audience, but it has also resonated strongly with people from across Northern Ireland, with local visitors accounting for 57 per cent of the exhibition’s viewers.” 

“We are proud to have created a truly immersive experience that celebrates the creative genius of Lucian Freud. This collaboration with the V&A has been a fantastic opportunity to bring the work of this world-class artist to Northern Ireland while continuing to deliver exceptional experiences for our visitors from the island of Ireland and across the globe. We are confident that when the exhibition ends on 30th September, it will have helped to attract close to 30,000 people to Titanic Belfast which will have had a wider impact on the local economy,” Judith added.

Artwork featured in the exhibition includes Bella in Her Pluto T-Shirt (1995) with Freud capturing his daughter in wearing a t-shirt that carries deeper layers of personal significance; one of his most ambitious etched pieces, Self-Portrait: Reflection (Cancelled Self-Portrait) (1996)  offering a haunting and unflinching examination of himself in later life and Donegal Man (2007) – which has a special connection to Titanic Belfast as the sitter was Pat Doherty, the visitor attraction’s Chairman.

“The feedback from visitors has been lovely to hear with many particularly enjoying being able to learn more about the process of how the etchings were made, as well as the insight into the way Freud approached his work,” Judith continued. 

Visitors to the exhibition have can also enjoy an immersive experience that brings the etching process to life, allowing them to engage with the meticulous and unpredictable nature of Freud’s printmaking.  Interactive listening pods offer further insight into the artist’s world through interviews with key figures who knew him well providing a deeper understanding of the man behind the work - his habits, his relationships, and the uncompromising vision that shaped his extraordinary artistic legacy.

As part of the exhibition, Titanic Belfast has crafted a recreation of Freud’s Kensington studio, offering an intimate glimpse into the space he worked that became a living artwork itself with his iconic bundles of rags, collected to clean his brushes – a testament to his obsessive devotion to his craft.

Lucian Freud’s Etchings: A Creative Collaboration is a free, non-ticketed exhibition running until Tuesday 30th September in the Andrews Gallery on Level 2 of Titanic Belfast. For further information, click here.