Renowned artist and children's book author Oliver Jeffers is presenting his first exhibition in his hometown of Belfast in over twenty years, bringing a thought-provoking collection titled "Disasters and Interventions" to the Naughton Gallery at Queen's University. The show, which transforms serene vintage landscapes into scenes of unexpected catastrophe, marks a significant homecoming for the creator whose books have sold eighteen million copies worldwide. Jeffers, whose beloved stories include "Lost and Found," "How to Catch a Star," and "Here We Are," has spent years living in the United States before recently relocating back to Northern Ireland with his family.
The exhibition's unique concept began fourteen years ago in New York City's Chinatown, where Jeffers discovered a discarded, deteriorating print that caught his artistic eye. He began incorporating his own painted interventions into found images and vintage photographs, gradually realizing he was consistently introducing elements of disaster into these tranquil scenes. The result is a darkly humorous body of work that features an oil tanker capsizing in a pristine mountain lake, an airship crashing into ocean waters while oblivious golfers finish their game on a nearby course, and a solitary hilltop house struck by lightning. Jeffers describes the intended reaction as "a smile in the mind" rather than laugh-out-loud comedy, aiming to provoke contemplation about instability and resilience in the modern world.
Growing up in Belfast, Jeffers recognized his calling as an artist at age fifteen when a school career advisor suggested art college as a viable path. "It was the first time I realized—wow, you can have a job drawing pictures," he recalled during a recent interview. After studying at the University of Ulster, he built an international career that balanced fine art with children's literature. His books emerged later as a natural extension of his visual storytelling, rooted in what he calls the region's innate narrative tradition. "So much of it is empathy, and understanding your audience," Jeffers explained, noting that his creative process involves tapping into his own childhood memories and the universal instinct for imaginative play that all children possess.
The artist's philosophy centers on authenticity rather than market trends, a principle he believes has guided his success across multiple mediums. "I think art is one of the few industries where the more selfish you are, the more generous you are," Jeffers observed, explaining that chasing perceived audience demands leads to repetitive work, while genuine self-expression creates meaningful connections. This approach has allowed him to maintain creative integrity while building a global readership. His distinctive visual style, characterized by whimsical illustrations and profound emotional depth, has made his books modern classics in children's literature.
Visitors to the exhibition will discover several Easter eggs referencing Jeffers' literary work, most notably his signature red rocket from "How to Catch a Star" appearing in a piece called "Down on the Range." The painting depicts the crashed spacecraft beside a lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains and buffalo, with Jeffers meticulously rendering the reflection in the water to achieve photorealistic integration. The collection also features multiple reinterpretations of the Titanic, the most infamous ship built in Belfast, showing it sinking in impossible locations like deserts and glens rather than the Atlantic. These works serve as both homage to his hometown's industrial heritage and commentary on how local stories resonate globally.
Since returning to Northern Ireland, Jeffers has embraced the slower pace and strong sense of community he once took for granted. "It's only with coming back, having experienced the rat race at full tilt elsewhere, that I realize this is what I want, for my family and myself," he reflected. He has become an active supporter of the region's emerging artistic talent, noting that many young artists and storytellers are gaining recognition. Looking ahead, Jeffers plans to continue creating books and art while staying rooted in his homeland, allowing his work to evolve naturally through careful observation of the world and those around him.
