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Betty

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L to R: Installation view: Betty Woodman and George Woodman at Charleston 2023. © The Charleston Trust; photograph: James Bellorini / Betty Woodman. "His and Hers Vases: Looking Back," 2006. 29 1⁄2 x 45 x 13 1⁄2 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, and paint. Photo: Jeff Elstone / George Woodman. "Blue Arm and Chinese Maiden," 2012. 24 x 19 1⁄2 in. Oil paint on gelatin silver print. Photo: Eliza Little / Pair: Betty Woodman. “His/Her Vase, Gauguin’s Nude,” 2005. 29 x 58 x 11 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, and paint / George Woodman. “Classical De Stijl,” 2007. 16 x 20 in. Oil paint on gelatin silver print. Photo: Eliza Little / George Woodman. “Untitled,” 1987. 20 x 16 in. Gelatin silver print. Photo: Eliza Little / Betty Woodman. “Venus #12,” 2016. 34 1/4 x 16 x 5 1/2 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, paint, and cement / George Woodman. “Euridice and Amor,” 1982. 63 x 51 in. Acrylic paint on canvas / Betty Woodman. “Green Nude,” 2007. 33 x 33 3/4 x 6 3/4 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, and paint / George Woodman. “Untitled,” c. 1992. 41 1/4 x 33 1/2 in. Gelatin silver print.

Installation view: “Betty Woodman and George Woodman” at Charleston 2023. © The Charleston Trust; photograph: James Bellorini.

NOW ON VIEW: "Betty Woodman and George Woodman," Charleston, East Sussex, UK, March 25-September 10, 2023

‍The exhibition at Charleston explores ways that Betty Woodman’s and George Woodman’s shared life and experiences over more than six decades found expression in the works that emerged from each artists’ studio. Art history significantly influenced them both, as can be seen in many of the works on view at Charleston as well as numerous other works in the Foundation’s collection, as shown here.

Betty Woodman, Pompei, Metropolitan City of Naples, Campania, Italy, c. 1990s. Woodman Family Foundation Archive.

Happy birthday to Betty Woodman

Happy birthday to Betty Woodman, who was born on this day in 1930!

L to R: All artworks by Betty Woodman. Images 1-3: “Floating Beauty,” 1999. 27 x 56 x 10 1/4 in / Images 4-6: “After the Bath,” 2011. 35 x 37 1/2 x 8 in / Images 7-9: “Egyptian Diptych,” 1995. 28 x 52 x 8 in. All artworks glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, and paint. All images Courtesy of David Kordansky Gallery. Photography: Phoebe d’Heurle.

Betty Woodman. “Floating Beauty,” 1999. 27 x 56 x 10 1/4 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, and paint.

OPENING Friday May 12: "Betty Woodman: Diptychs," David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles, May 12-June 16, 2023

“Betty Woodman: Diptychs” focuses on two-part ceramic sculptures made by the artist between 1990 and 2013. The exhibition charts the evolution of Woodman's ideas about positive and negative space and sculpture and painting through these carefully composed works.

L to R: Betty surveys pots fresh from the kiln in front of one of George’s tessellation paintings in the Woodmans’ living room in Antella, c. 1970s / Pair: George Woodman. “Untitled,” c. 1970. 52 x 52 in. Acrylic paint on canvas. Photo: John Berens / Betty Woodman. “The Kitchen Table,” 2014. 63 x 60 x 12 1/2 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, acrylic paint, canvas, and wood. Private collection / One of George’s paintings in the Woodman’s bedroom, c. 1970s / The Woodmans' farmhouse in Antella, c. 1990s. Betty's studio was located in what had been the house's wine cellar. An outdoor structure was added to give her more space to work / Betty installing a Balustrade Relief Vase in the workspace just outside of her wine cellar studio, 1996 / George on the threshold of his former studio, when it had been located next to the outdoor dining area, c. 1980s / The Woodmans continued to expand the wine cellar studio. In 2008, they renovated and expanded the space significantly, transforming it into new studio for George / George decorates the exterior wall of his new studio with his version of “sgraffito,” a technique of scratching into plaster walls, popularized in 15th and 16th Century Italy and significant in the Italian Renaissance, Antella, Italy, 2008 / George and Betty in George’s wine cellar studio, 2009 / Works in progress in Betty’s most recent Antella studio, which was built into the hillside below the house and above the olive groves, 2004. All archival images Woodman Family Foundation Archive.

Betty surveys pots fresh from the kiln in front of one of George’s tessellation paintings in the Woodmans’ living room in Antella, c. 1970s. Woodman Family Foundation Archive.

NOW ON VIEW: "Betty Woodman and George Woodman," Charleston, East Sussex, UK, March 25-September 10, 2023

This exhibition at Charleston—the home and studio of artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant—centers on Betty and George Woodman’s prolific time in Antella, Italy, where they lived and worked together for part each year for nearly 50 years. In addition to presenting a range of artworks exploring the couple’s mutual influences and their ongoing dialogue in a variety of media, the exhibition includes archival photographs documenting their home, life and work in Antella.

L to R: Betty Woodman. "Aztec Vase and Carpet: April," 2016. 38 ½ x 58 x 43 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, paint, and canvas / George Woodman. "Piazza San Francesco di Paola," 1965. 32 x 32 in. Oil paint on canvas.

"Betty Woodman and George Woodman" featured in "STIR," March 26, 2023

Read Rahul Kumar's interview with Charleston curator Emily Hill in "STIR" about the exhibition "Betty Woodman and George Woodman" on view now through September 10, 2023 at Charleston, East Sussex, UK.

Betty Woodman. "Night Window," 2016. 69 1/4 x 79 3/4 x 10 1/2 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, acrylic paint, canvas, and wood. Photo: Bruno Bruchi / George Woodman. "Canova Museum," 2010. 42 x 36 in. Oil paint on gelatin silver print. Photo: Eliza Little.

OPENING SATURDAY "Betty Woodman and George Woodman," Charleston, East Sussex, UK, March 25-September 10, 2023

Representing a decades-long dialogue in ceramics and paint, “Betty Woodman and George Woodman” brings together the artists’ vibrant ceramics, vivid abstract paintings, radical assemblages, and photographs, illuminated by archival materials. Focused on the couple’s prolific time at their farmhouse in Antella, Italy—where they lived and worked for part of each year for nearly fifty years—the exhibition explores the artists’ mutual influences and their shared life immersed in art, culture, travel and experimentation, reflected in kindred palettes and patterns.

L to R: All artworks by Betty Woodman. “The Summer House,” 2015. 338 1/2 x 94 1/2 x 12 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, acrylic paint, canvas, and wood. Photo: Bruno Bruchi / Images 2-3: Details of “The Summer House,” 2015 / “Vase Upon Vase: Orfeo,” 2013. 66 1/2 x 23 x 16 1/4 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, acrylic paint, and wood. Photo: Brian Forrest / “Cherry Blossom Time,” 2005. 65 x 27 1/2 x 9 3/4 in. Photo: Christopher Burke / Installation view of “Portugal” (2005), The Great Hall, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2006. 34 1/4 x 29 1/2 x 18 in. Photo: Peter Harkawik / “Rose et Noir,” 1989. 21 x 26 x 22 in. Photo: Christopher Burke / Images 5-7: All glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, and acrylic paint / Cover of “Frieze," No. 177, March, 2016.

Betty Woodman. “The Summer House,” 2015. 338 1/2 x 94 1/2 x 12 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, acrylic paint, canvas, and wood.

Betty Woodman interview with Amy Sherlock, "Feel More," "Frieze," No. 177, March 2016: READING ROOM

READING ROOM highlights past essays, reviews and interviews about Betty Woodman, Francesca Woodman, and George Woodman that provided new insights and lenses through which to understand their work. “FEEL MORE: Ahead of her solo exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, Betty Woodman talks to Amy Sherlock about ceramic histories and modern painting.”

L to R: Betty Woodman and George Woodman at Betty’s kiln, Antella, Italy, c. 1973. Woodman Family Foundation Archive / Betty Woodman. “Aztec Vase and Carpet: April,” 2016. 38 ½ x 58 x 43 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, paint, and canvas / George Woodman. “Piazza San Francesco di Paola,” 1965. 32 x 32 in. Oil paint on canvas.

Betty Woodman and George Woodman at Betty’s kiln, Antella, Italy, c. 1973. Woodman Family Foundation Archive.

UPCOMING EXHIBITION "Betty Woodman and George Woodman," Charleston, Lewes, East Sussex, UK, March 25-September 10, 2023

“Betty Woodman and George Woodman” is the first UK exhibition to show both artists' work together, celebrating the work of ground-breaking American ceramic artist Betty Woodman and the painter and photographer George Woodman.

L to R: Images 1-5: Betty Woodman and George Woodman working in Bud and Barbara Shark’s studio, Holualoa, Hawaii, 1996 / Image 6: Betty Woodman and George Woodman in front of lava wall, City of Refuge, Hawaii, 1996 / Images 7–8: Betty Woodman and George Woodman, South Point, Hawaii, 1996. All photos by Barbara Shark, courtesy Woodman Family Foundation Archive.

Betty Woodman working in Bud and Barbara Shark’s studio, Holualoa, Hawaii, 1996. Photo by Barbara Shark.

Betty Woodman and George Woodman at Bud and Barbara Shark's studio, Holualoa, Hawaii, 1996: From the Archives...

In January of 1996, Betty and George Woodman escaped a snowy Colorado winter to join their good friends Bud and Barbara Shark in Holualoa on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Video still from "Betty Woodman: Conversations on the Shore, Works from the 1990s." Produced by David Kordansky Gallery Studio footage of Betty Woodman excerpted from the documentary Betty Woodman: Thinking Out Loud (1991), © Charles Woodman Voiceover excerpted from an interview with John Perreault Exhibition footage by Sean Hanley Editing by Destefano DeLuise.

Video still from "Betty Woodman: Conversations on the Shore, Works from the 1990s." Produced by David Kordansky Gallery. Studio footage of Betty Woodman excerpted from the documentary Betty Woodman: Thinking Out Loud (1991), © Charles Woodman. Voiceover excerpted from an interview with John Perreault. Exhibition footage by Sean Hanley Editing by Destefano DeLuise.

"Betty Woodman: Conversations on the Shore, Works from the 1990s," David Kordansky Gallery, New York, October 29-December 17, 2022

L to R: Installation views, "Betty Woodman: Conversations on the Shore, Works from the 1990s," David Kordansky Gallery, New York, 2022. All images Courtesy of David Kordansky Gallery. Photography: Phoebe d’Heurle.

Installation view, "Betty Woodman: Conversations on the Shore, Works from the 1990s," David Kordansky Gallery, New York, 2022. Courtesy of David Kordansky Gallery. Photography: Phoebe d’Heurle.

CLOSING TOMORROW “Betty Woodman: Conversations on the Shore, Works from the 1990s," David Kordansky Gallery, New York, October 29-December 17, 2022

Of this group of works from the 1990s, many not seen for decades, Johanna Fateman wrote in her recent review in The New Yorker: “As with everything on view in this wonderful show, the installation is so gestural and so fluid that it’s easy to forget that the ecstatic whole is composed of brittle parts.”

Installation view, "Betty Woodman: Conversations on the Shore, Works from the 1990s," David Kordansky Gallery, New York, 2022. All images Courtesy of David Kordansky Gallery. Photography: Phoebe d’Heurle.

"Betty Woodman: Conversations on the Shore, Works from the 1990s" featured in The New Yorker, December 5, 2022

Read a review on "Betty Woodman: Conversations on the Shore, Works from the 1990s" by Johanna Fateman in The New Yorker. The exhibition is currently on view through December 17 at David Kordansky Gallery, New York.