L to R: Group, T to B: Betty Woodman, “Athens,” 1991, 35 1/2 x 68 5/8 x 10 1/4 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, and paint / George Woodman, “Untitled,” c. 1966-68, 39 1/2 x 39 1/2 in. Acrylic on canvas / Francesca Woodman, “After My Grandmother's Funeral,” 1977, from the “After My Grandmother's Funeral” series, 5 1/8 x 5 1/4 in. Gelatin silver print | Betty Woodman, “Athens,” 1991, 35 1/2 x 68 5/8 x 10 1/4 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, and paint | George Woodman, “Untitled,” c. 1966-68, 39 1/2 x 39 1/2 in. Acrylic on canvas | Francesca Woodman, “After My Grandmother's Funeral” series, 1977. Gelatin silver prints | Francesca Woodman, “After My Grandmother's Funeral,” 1977, from the “After My Grandmother's Funeral” series, 5 1/8 x 5 1/4 in. Gelatin silver print | Francesca Woodman, “After My Grandmother's Funeral,” 1977, from the “After My Grandmother's Funeral” series, 5 1/8 x 5 1/8 in. Gelatin silver print | Francesca Woodman, “Untitled,” 1977, from the “After My Grandmother's Funeral” series, 5 5/16 x 5 1/4 in. Gelatin silver print | Francesca Woodman, “After My Grandmother's Funeral,” 1977, from the “After My Grandmother's Funeral” series, 5 x 5 1/8 in. Gelatin silver print | Francesca Woodman, “After My Grandmother's Funeral,” 1977, from the “After My Grandmother's Funeral” series, 5 1/8 x 5 1/8 in. Gelatin silver print | Francesca Woodman, “2,” 1977, from the “After My Grandmother's Funeral” series, 5 1/4 x 5 1/4 in. Gelatin silver print All artworks © Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Group, T to B: Betty Woodman, “Athens,” 1991, 35 1/2 x 68 5/8 x 10 1/4 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, and paint / George Woodman, “Untitled,” c. 1966-68, 39 1/2 x 39 1/2 in. Acrylic on canvas / Francesca Woodman, “After My Grandmother's Funeral,” 1977, from the “After My Grandmother's Funeral” series, 5 1/8 x 5 1/4 in. Gelatin silver print © Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Acquisition by the Currier Museum of Art, Manchester, New Hampshire, 2024
We are very pleased to announce the acquisition of a group of important works by Betty Woodman, Francesca Woodman, and George Woodman from the Foundation’s holdings by the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, New Hampshire.
L to R: Betty, Charles, and Francesca Woodman in front of the New York World's Fair Unisphere, 1964 / Charles and Francesca Woodman in front of Thailand's pavilion, 1964 / Bird's eye view of the New York World's Fair, 1964. Woodman Family Foundation Archives.
Betty, Charles, and Francesca Woodman in front of the New York World's Fair Unisphere, 1964. Woodman Family Foundation Archives.
The Woodmans at the 1964 New York World's Fair: FROM THE ARCHIVES...
Sixty years ago, before they had traveled much of the world together, the Woodman family visited the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.
L to R: “Self-Portrait at Thirteen," c. 1972, 6 3/4 x 6 11/16 in. Gelatin silver print | 2 & 3: Francesca Woodman's Yashica Mat-124G camera | “Untitled," 1979, 3 5/16 x 3 1/2 in. Chromogenic print. All artworks by Francesca Woodman © Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Woodman Family Foundation Archives.
Francesca Woodman, “Self-Portrait at Thirteen," c. 1972, 6 3/4 x 6 11/16 in. Gelatin silver print © Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Francesca Woodman's first camera: FROM THE ARCHIVES
In 1972, Francesca Woodman received her first camera, a 6x6 twin-lens reflex Yashica Mat-124G, from her father, George Woodman.
L to R: Francesca Woodman, “Untitled," c. 1976, 4 7/8 x 5 1/8 in. Courtesy Elton John and David Furnish Collection. | Exhibition poster, “Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection” with Harley Weir, “Boys Don’t Cry, Senegal, 2015,” 2015 © Harley Weir | Francesca Woodman, “Untitled,” 1979, 5 7/8 x 5 13/16 in. | Detail from installation view of “Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection," Victoria and Albert Museum, 2024. Image courtesy and copyright Victoria and Albert Museum & James Retief | Exhibition graphic, “The ‘70s Lens: Reimagining Documentary Photography” with Anthony Barboza, “New York City,” 1970s © Anthony Barboza Photography | Francesca Woodman, “Untitled,” c. 1977-78, 5 9/16 x 5 3/8 in. | Francesca Woodman, “House #3,” c. 1975-76, from the “Abandoned House” series, 6 3/8 x 6 7/16 in. All Francesca Woodman works gelatin silver prints © Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / DACS, London
Francesca Woodman, “Untitled," c. 1976, 4 7/8 x 5 1/8 in. Gelatin silver print. Courtesy Elton John and David Furnish Collection. © Woodman Family Foundation / DACS, London
NOW ON VIEW: Francesca Woodman in “Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection” and “The ‘70s Lens: Reimagining Documentary Photography,” 2024
This fall, check out two group exhibitions showcasing works by Francesca Woodman. Known for her performative approach to photography, Woodman stages the female body and intervenes in the environment to create narratives rich in metaphor.
Francesca Woodman. "Untitled," c. 1975-78, 9 1/2 x 12 1/4 in. (24.13 x 31.12 cm). Gelatin silver print © Woodman Family Foundation / VISDA, Copenhagen.
OPENING October 11: "OCEAN," Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebæk, Denmark, 2024
This exhibition delves into the depths where imagination meets reality, considering ways the sea has been a source of adventure and destruction throughout history.
L to R: 1: Francesca Woodman. “Untitled”, c. 1977-78. Gelatin silver print. 5 11/16 x 5 13/16 in. / 2: Francesca Woodman. “Untitled”, 1979, Chromogenic print. 3 3/8 x 3 1/2 in. / 4: Francesca Woodman. “Untitled”, 1979, Chromogenic print. 3 3/8 x 3 1/2 in. / 6: Francesca Woodman. “House #4”, 1976, from the "House" series. Gelatin silver print. 5 11/16 x 5 3/4 in. / 9: Francesca Woodman. “Untitled”, 1979. Chromogenic print. 3 5/16 x 3 1/2 in. / 3, 5, 7, 8, 10: Gordon Matta-Clark. “Bingo”, 1974. Building fragments: painted wood, metal, plaster, and glass, three sections. All photographs taken at The Museum of Modern Art, New York, 2024 / All Francesca Woodman artworks © Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Francesca Woodman. “Untitled”, c. 1977-78. Gelatin silver print. 5 11/16 x 5 13/16 in. © Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Rehan Miscki, The Woodman Family Foundation's Digital Imaging and Photography Manager: STAFF PICKS
Hello, this is Rehan Miskci. I recently joined The Woodman Foundation as their Digital Imaging and Photography Manager. I’m lucky to be involved with Francesca, Betty and George Woodman’s works on a daily basis and oversee any image-based needs.
L to R: “Untitled,” c. 1975-78, 7 3/8 x 7 3/8 in. / “Untitled,” 1978, 35 1/4 x 33 in. / “Untitled,” 1976, 5 7/8 x 5 7/8 in. / "Self-portrait Talking to Vince," 1977, 5 3/16 x 5 1/16 in. / "Untitled," 1976, 5 1/2 x 5 5/8 in. / “Space²,” from the “Space²” series, 1976, 5 1/14 x 5 in. / "Sloan," 1976, 5 15/16 x 5 7/8 in. All gelatin silver prints. All works by Francesca Woodman © Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Francesca Woodman. “Untitled,” c. 1975-78, 7 3/8 x 7 3/8 in. Gelatin silver print © Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Micaela Walker, The Woodman Family Foundation's Archivist: STAFF PICKS
Becoming the archivist at the Woodman Family Foundation sometimes feels oddly inevitable to me. I was introduced to Francesca Woodman’s images as a photography major at RISD twenty years after her time there and remember being both besotted with and intimidated by her work.
L to R: Francesca Woodman. “Untitled,” c. 1979-80. Gelatin silver print. 7 1/8 x 9 3/16 in. / Francesca Woodman. “Untitled,” c. 1979-80. Gelatin silver print. 6 13/16 x 9 3/8 in. / George Woodman. “Psyche, Amor and Sara,” 2010. Oil on gelatin silver print. 163 x 226 in. / George Woodman. “Five Cases of Classicism,” 2011. Gelatin silver print. 23 x 35 3/4 in © Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Francesca Woodman. “Untitled,” c. 1979-80. Gelatin silver print. 7 1/8 x 9 3/16 in © Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Mallory O'Donoghue, The Woodman Family Foundation's Collections Researcher: STAFF PICKS
As the Woodman Family Foundation’s Collections Researcher, I spend a good amount of my working hours digging around libraries and special collections scattered throughout New York City. I believe the artists of the Woodman Family Foundation were equally as inspired by this bustling and beautiful metropolis as I am.
L to R: Pair: Julia Margaret Cameron. “Il Penseroso,” 1865, 252 x 202 mm. Albumen print. The Victoria and Albert Museum / Francesca Woodman. “Self-Portrait on That Same Day,” c. 1977, 5 5/16 x 5 1/4 in. Gelatin silver print. / Images 2-7: Installation views, “Francesca Woodman and Julia Margaret Cameron: Portraits to Dream In,” Institut Valencià d'Art Modern, Valencia, Spain, 2024. Images courtesy Institut Valencià d'Art Modern. Photo: Miguel Lorenzo / Pair: Julia Margaret Cameron. “Marie Spartali,” 1870, 362 x 267 mm. Albumen silver print. The J. Paul Getty Museum / Francesca Woodman. “Space²," from the “Space²“ series, 5 11/16 x 5 11/16 in. Gelatin silver print. All Francesca Woodman artworks © Woodman Family Foundation / VEGAP, Madrid.
Pair: Julia Margaret Cameron. “Il Penseroso,” 1865, 252 x 202 mm. Albumen print. The Victoria and Albert Museum / Francesca Woodman. “Self-Portrait on That Same Day,” c. 1977, 5 5/16 x 5 1/4 in. (13.50 x 13.34 cm). Gelatin silver print. © Woodman Family Foundation / VEGAP, Madrid.
NOW ON VIEW: “Francesca Woodman and Julia Margaret Cameron: Portraits to Dream In” in Spain
"Francesca Woodman and Julia Margaret Cameron: Portraits to Dream In" is currently on view in Spain through October 20.
L to R: "Untitled," c. 1975-78, 5 5/8 x 5 11/16 in. / Group: "Untitled," c. 1977-78, 8 x 7 3/4 in.; "Untitled," c. 1977-78, 8 x 7 3/8 in.; "Untitled," c. 1977-78, 8 x 7 3/8 in.; "Untitled," c. 1977-78, 8 x 7 3/8 in. / "Untitled," c. 1977-78, 8 x 7 3/4 in. / "Untitled," c. 1977-78, 8 x 7 3/8 in. / "Untitled," c. 1977-78, 8 x 7 5/16 in. / "Untitled," c. 1977-78, 8 x 7 3/8 in. / "Untitled," c. 1977-78, 8 x 7 3/8 in. All artworks by Francesca Woodman. All gelatin silver prints. © Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Francesca Woodman. "Untitled," c. 1975-78, 5 5/8 x 5 11/16 in. Gelatin silver print. © Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Architectural elements: Francesca Woodman. "Francesca Woodman," Gagosian, New York.
In the current exhibition at Gagosian, works presented thematically and serially, including “Blueprint for a Temple (II),” draw attention to Francesca Woodman’s years-long exploration of the figure in space.
L to R: Group: “Untitled,” c. 1979-80, 5 9/16 x 5 9/16 in. / “Untitled,” c. 1979-80, 5 11/16 x 5 11/16 in. / “Untitled,” c. 1979-80, 5 5/8 x 5 9/16 in. “Untitled,” c. 1979-80, 5 9/16 x 5 9/16 in. “Untitled,” c. 1979-80, 5 5/8 x 5 9/16 in. All artworks by Francesca Woodman. All gelatin silver prints. © Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Group: “Untitled,” c. 1979-80, 5 9/16 x 5 9/16 in. / “Untitled,” c. 1979-80, 5 11/16 x 5 11/16 in. / “Untitled,” c. 1979-80, 5 5/8 x 5 9/16 in. All works by Francesca Woodman. All gelatin silver prints. © Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Transforming the body into form. "Francesca Woodman," Gagosian, New York.
“Sitting in bed – the slide projector is humming in the other room – a slide of helen as caryatid – im feeling very very lazy and contented – the cat lounges on a newly washed pile of pink clothes and the room is strewn with fresh tulips – even my fish has fresh flowers from Chinatown.”
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Francesca Woodman and Julia Margaret Cameron: Portraits to Dream In, installation view. Courtesy National Portrait Gallery, London. Photo: David Parry.
"Francesca Woodman and Julia Margaret Cameron" in "4Columns," May 31
Read Emily LaBarge's review of Francesca Woodman and Julia Margaret Cameron: Portraits to Dream In at the National Portrait Gallery on 4Columns.