Heart of Gold- 2026
Date: 2026
Dimensions: 2.2 x 1m
Materials: Ceramic
Techniques: Handmade, textured and coloured ceramics with coloured glazes and gold lustre.
Commissioned by: Northern Ireland Organ Donation Services Team at South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust.
Funded by NHS Blood and Transplant
Location: Entrance to ICU at the Ulster Hospital, Dundonald
Architects:
Description: A powerful and deeply moving new mural, ‘Heart of Gold’, has been unveiled at the Ulster Hospital, celebrating the extraordinary generosity of organ donors and the lives they have transformed.
Concept: The unique ceramic artwork, created in partnership with staff and patients, serves as a lasting tribute to those who have given the gift of life through organ donation.
The mural features delicate Forget Me Not flowers representing a promise that donors will never be forgotten, a striking gold heart at its centre symbolising the donor’s selfless generosity, a flourishing garden reflecting renewal and hope, and butterflies representing transformation and new life.
South Eastern Trust, Organ Donation Specialist Nurse, Katie Anderson, said: “It was very important to us that this piece felt personal and unique to the South Eastern Trust.
“At the heart of the mural is the gold heart, representing the donor, the true centre of everything.
“We are incredibly proud of how it has come together; it is a beautiful and meaningful way to honour our donors.”
Consultant in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Dr Chris Gowers, added: “Organ donation is one of the most selfless gifts a person can give.
“In Intensive Care, we are constantly humbled by the courage and generosity of families who, during the most devastating moments of their lives, choose to honour their loved one’s wishes or think of others in need.
“This artwork is a touching and lasting way to recognise that generosity. It also highlights how important it is for people to make their wishes known. Registering a decision and just as importantly, having that conversation with loved ones, can make an incredibly difficult time a little clearer for families. That is what we are striving to encourage.”