L to R: Installation views, "Francesca Woodman: Alternate Stories," Marian Goodman Gallery, New York, 2021. Courtesy of Marian Goodman Gallery. Photos by Alex Yudzon.
Installation view, "Francesca Woodman: Alternate Stories," Marian Goodman Gallery, New York, 2021. Courtesy of Marian Goodman Gallery. Photo by Alex Yudzon.
NOW OPEN "Francesca Woodman: Alternate Stories" at Marian Goodman Gallery, New York, November 2-December 23, 2021
This solo exhibition of vintage photographs by Francesca Woodman includes more than twenty previously unseen works and draws on the artist's writings about her practice in newly available archival material from the Foundation's holdings. The show presents thematic threads and groupings of images in relational contexts, offering a fresh perspective on Woodman's work.
L to R: Our archives intern Molly McBride Jacobson digs into unsorted family photographs from our archives, 2021.
Our archives intern Molly McBride Jacobson digs into unsorted family photographs from our archives, 2021.
Our archives intern Molly McBride Jacobson digs into unsorted family photographs from our archives: From the Archives...
The Woodman Family Foundation archives include boxes and boxes of family photographs, spanning the early days George and Betty spent in Albuquerque where they welcomed their son Charlie into the world; to their move to a modernist home in Boulder—the site of many birthday parties, pottery sales, impromptu installations of paintings and Francesca’s earliest experiments with “dress up;” until just a few years ago enjoying breakfast with their grandson Alexander in both New York and Antella.
Francesca Woodman. Contact sheet, Italy, c. 1977-78. 8 x 10 in. Gelatin silver print.
Francesca Woodman. Contact sheet, Italy, c. 1977-78. 8 x 10 in. Gelatin silver print.
"Francesca Woodman: Alternate Stories" on Yale Radio with Lissa McClure and Brainard Carey
Our Executive Director Lissa McClure was recently in conversation with Brainard Carey on Yale Radio about Francesca Woodman’s upcoming solo exhibition “Francesca Woodman: Alternate Stories” at Marian Goodman Gallery, New York. They spoke about the inclusion of never-before-seen photographs and Woodman's own writings about her work, her compositional and conceptual grounding, and this exciting opportunity to view the work through new lenses.
L to R: Entrance to the Woodman family’s farmhouse adorned with a Pillow Pitcher by Betty atop a wall of George’s “sgraffito,” 2017 / View of the olive groves from Betty’s studio, 2004 / Betty cutting well-tended roses growing against the wall next to her studio, 2008 / Betty making flower arrangements with roses, dahlias and gerbera daisies from her garden, 2006 / Betty putting fresh flowers in a group of her “Vase and Stand” works, 1984 / Betty, a young family friend, and Francesca, c. late 1960s / Table set for dinner, 2016, photo by Brigid McCaffrey / Generous bowls and baskets full of figs, plums, peaches, grapes, and tomatoes, 2016 / Betty, Charlie and Francesca cooking together, c. early 1970s / George at his studio door, 2006 / A view out from the same door, 2008 / Francesca and Betty holding their bunnies, c. 1968 / Charlie on his motorino, c. late 1960s / Betty and friend with Betty’s triptych “June in Italy” (2001), c. 2001 / George with his sculpture, c. early 1970s / he Woodman family’s patio with potted geraniums and the olive grove in view, c. 1990s / Morning glories climbing George’s “sgrafitto” wall, c. 1990s.
L to R: Entrance to the Woodman family’s farmhouse adorned with a Pillow Pitcher by Betty atop a wall of George’s “sgraffito,” 2017 / George with his sculpture, c. early 1970s / Betty, Charlie and Francesca cooking together, c. early 1970s / Betty cutting well-tended roses growing against the wall next to her studio, 2008.
AUGUST IN ANTELLA
Beginning in the summer of 1968, the Woodman Family spent every summer at their stone farmhouse in Antella, Italy, just outside of Florence. As children, Charlie and Francesca joined their parents and later visited on their own, soaking in Italian culture and influences. Betty and George made some of their most important artistic breakthroughs there—a place George once described as "an artist residency for two.” All summer long, their garden produced abundant food and flowers—the tomatoes were particularly good in August, happily shared with frequent visitors.
Letter from George Woodman to Francesca Woodman, September 4, 1977.
Letter from George Woodman to Francesca Woodman, September 4, 1977.
A letter from George Woodman to Francesca Woodman, September 4, 1977: From the Archives...
September of 1977 marked the start of new academic year for each of the Woodmans and the pursuit of teaching or studies in four different locations around the US and Europe. Francesca Woodman had just begun her fruitful year in Rome with the RISD European Honors Program, after spending some time in Antella. In a letter sent to her from Boulder, George Woodman recaps summer travels and reports on the rest of the family’s activities.
Francesca Woodman. “from Eel Series,” Venice, Italy, 1978. 8 1/2 x 8 5/8 in. Gelatin silver print. © Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Francesca Woodman. “from Eel Series,” Venice, Italy, 1978. 8 1/2 x 8 5/8 in. Gelatin silver print. © Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Francesca Woodman in “New Time: Art and Feminisms in the 21st Century” at University of California, Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA), Berkeley, California, August 28, 2021-January 30, 2022
This ambitious survey of recent feminist practices in contemporary art begins with Lucy Lippard’s observation that feminist art is “a value system, a revolutionary strategy, a way of life.” While the majority of works on view were made in the first two decades of this century, highlighting the wide-ranging concerns and multiple perspectives of contemporary artists, influential works made by artists of earlier generations are also featured, including three photographs by Francesca Woodman.
L to R: Francesca Woodman. “Untitled,” Providence, Rhode Island, 1976. 5 1/4 x 5 3/16 in. Gelatin silver print. © Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / Claude Cahun. “Self-Portrait (in a cupboard),” 1932. Gelatin silver print. © Estate of Claude Cahun / Kirsten Justesen. “Portræt i arkiv med samling (Portrait in cabinet with collection),” 2013. 58 1/4 x 39 1/2 x 1 in. Chromogenic print mounted on Dibond with matte acrylic. © Kirsten Justesen.
Francesca Woodman. “Untitled,” Providence, Rhode Island, 1976. 5 1/4 x 5 3/16 in. Gelatin silver print.
Francesca Woodman, "Untitled," Providence, Rhode Island, 1976: STAFF PICKS
Hi, Celia Lê here! I am the Woodman Family Foundation’s Research Intern and my main responsibility is exhibition and provenance research for Francesca Woodman. Personally, I love how Francesca often investigates the relationship between the body and space, from the various textures created by the wall to the extension of her legs outside of the cupboard in this work.
Envelope for letter from George Woodman in Boulder, Colorado to Francesca Woodman in Rome, Italy, October 19, 1977.
Envelope for letter from George Woodman in Boulder, Colorado to Francesca Woodman in Rome, Italy, October 19, 1977.
Betty Woodman, Francesca Woodman, and George Woodman in “Interior Scroll or What I Did on My Vacation” at S&S Corner Shop, The Art Building, Springs, New York, July 24-September 26, 2021
OPENING TOMORROW: Betty Woodman, Francesca Woodman, and George Woodman in “Interior Scroll or What I did on My Vacation” at S&S Corner Shop, The Art Building, Springs, New York. On view July 24 through September 26, 2021. Organized by Soft Network. We are pleased to announce that this exhibition includes a selection of correspondence written between Betty, Francesca and George Woodman in 1978, as well as Francesca Woodman’s “Selected Video Works,” 1976-1978.
L to R: All artworks by Francesca Woodman. Installation view, “Rincontrarsi a Venezia,” Spazio Berlendis, Venice, Italy, 2021, including “Caryatid,” New York, 1980. 101.93 x 36.62 in. Diazotype / "Self-Deceit #2,” Rome, Italy, 1978. 3 9/16 x 3 1/2 in. / “Self-Deceit #7,” 1978, Rome, Italy. 4 3/8 x 4 1/2 in. Gelatin silver print. Both gelatin silver prints.
L to R: All artworks by Francesca Woodman. Installation view, “Rincontrarsi a Venezia,” Spazio Berlendis, Venice, Italy, 2021, including “Caryatid,” New York, 1980. 101.93 x 36.62 in. Archival pigment print / "Self-Deceit #2,” Rome, Italy, 1978. 3 9/16 x 3 1/2 in. / “Self-Deceit #7,” 1978, Rome, Italy. 4 3/8 x 4 1/2 in. Gelatin silver print. Both gelatin silver prints.
Francesca Woodman in “Rincontrarsi a Venezia” at Spazio Berlendis, Venice, Italy, June 5-July 17, 2021
LAST CHANCE TO SEE Francesca Woodman in Rincontrarsi a Venezia at Spazio Berlendis, Venice, Italy. On view through July 17, 2021.
Family photographs of the Woodman’s sightseeing in Italy, circa 1959-60 and 1965-66.
George, Charles and Francesca Woodman in Rome, Italy, 1966.
The Woodman family explores Italy, circa 1959-60 and 1965-66: From the Archives...
The Woodman family’s lifelong love of Italy began in 1951 with Betty’s yearlong apprenticeship in Fiesole. After marrying in 1953, Betty and George took their young children, Charles and Francesca, for extended stays in 1959-60 and again in 1965-66.
Francesca Woodman. House #4, Providence, Rhode Island, 1976. 5 11/16 x 5 3/4 in. Gelatin silver print.
Francesca Woodman. House #4, Providence, Rhode Island, 1976. 5 11/16 x 5 3/4 in. Gelatin silver print.
Francesca Woodman in "Learning to Look: The Addison at 90" at the Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts, May 8 - December 31, 2021
The Addison has a long and important history with Francesca Woodman. It was the first institution to collect her work, purchasing six of her photographs in 1976. She had her first solo exhibition there that same year, including works she made while studying at Rhode Island School of Design.
Images L to R: All works by Francesca Woodman. Untitled (from Swan Song series), Providence, Rhode Island, 1978. Invitation by Francesca Woodman / Gelatin silver prints: 2) 39 1/2 x 44 in. 4) 35 1/4 x 33 in. / Installation views, Woods-Gerry Gallery, RISD, 1978 / Review by David K. Miller, 1978.
Invitation by Francesca Woodman, 1978.
Francesca Woodman's BFA graduate exhibition at Woods-Gerry Hall Gallery, RISD, 1978: From the Archives...
Francesca Woodman’s graduate exhibition as a student at the Rhode Island School of Design was held at the school’s Woods-Gerry Gallery in November 1978. She considered it a “swan song” to her time there as shown in her photocopied invitation. She reported on the opening in a letter to her friend Edith Schloss: “you would have enjoyed it i bought all these bird whistles that one fills with water and they warble in n.y. do you remember them from when you used to live there? anyway the room was very echoey with these things and i actually enjoyed the opening.”