IN GOOD COMPANY: Portraits of Queen's Women

07.03.25 - 23.03.25

Laura Callaghan

Developed by the Naughton Gallery and the Queen’s Gender Initiative, In Good Company: Portraits of Queen’s Women is a landmark project celebrating the vital and diverse contributions of women at Queen’s University Belfast. This specially commissioned series of watercolour portraits by internationally renowned Irish artist Laura Callaghan highlights just some of the remarkable women who shape Queen’s today—pioneering academics, dedicated support staff, inspirational leaders, and tireless advocates.

Selected through an open call inviting nominations from staff and students, the fifteen women represented in this project reflect the breadth of contributions made by both Academic and Professional Services staff across the University. Their work spans all three Faculties – Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Engineering and Physical Sciences; and Medicine, Health and Life Sciences – as well as key areas such as Estates, Campus Food and Drink, Academic Services, Accommodation, Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility, and the Students’ Union. Now part of the University Art Collection, these portraits ensure a lasting legacy of recognition, placing these women firmly in the spotlight and honouring their invaluable impact on Queen’s.

The women represented in the project are:

• Wahida Benali Tighiouart (Estates)
• Sandra Bloomer (Academic Services)
• Karen Branney (Accommodation)
• Sally Bridge (School of Arts, English and Languages)
• Professor Moira Dean (School of Biological Sciences)
• Chougher Maria Doughramajian (Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility)
• Dr Leanne Henderson (School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work)
• Sara Lynch (Estates)
• Breige McGuigan (Campus Food and Drink)
• Professor Tess Maginess (School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work)
• Leeann Matchett (People and Culture)
• Lorraine Meneilly (Students’ Union)
• Professor Margaret O’Callaghan (School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics)
• Sureya Paerhati (Academic Services)
• Professor Karen Rafferty (School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science)

In Good Company builds upon the Naughton Gallery’s longstanding collaborations with QGI, which began with the commissioning of Out of the Shadows by Michelle Rogers in 2000. On display in the University’s Council Chambers, this powerful painting symbolises the critical yet often overlooked roles of women at Queen’s. The Visionary Women portrait project followed, commissioning oil paintings of some of the most influential women in the University’s history, including former President of Ireland Mary McAleese, pioneering nephrologist Professor Mollie McGeown, and labour activist Baroness May Blood – whose portraits now hang in the Great Hall. More recent additions include Professor Carol McGuinness by Jennifer Trouton (2021) and Her Excellency Dr. Raja Al Gurg by Catherine Creaney (2024), reflecting an ongoing commitment to celebrating the women who shape the University’s legacy.

Laura Callaghan’s signature style – vibrant, intricate, and richly detailed – brings these fifteen women to life, capturing not only their likeness but also the energy, passion, and dedication they bring to their roles. Known for her striking depictions of women in dynamic, maximalist environments, Callaghan has worked with The New Yorker, Nike, and Lazy Oaf, and previously exhibited at the Naughton Gallery with her solo exhibition, Natura Naturans (2019–20).

Unveiled as part of International Women’s Day 2025, the University’s 180th anniversary, and QGI’s 25th year, In Good Company is both a tribute and a statement – affirming the essential role of women in shaping the University’s past, present, and future.