Woodman Family Foundation News

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Betty

Francesca

George

All artworks by Francesca Woodman. “Untitled,” Andover, Massachusetts, c. 1972-74. 3 x 4 1/4 in / “Untitled,” MacDowell Colony, Peterborough, New Hampshire, 1980. 3 3/4 x 3 13/16 in / “Untitled,” Providence, Rhode Island, 1976. 5 3/16 x 5 3/16 in / “Untitled,” Newport, Rhode Island, 1976. 6 1/2 x 6 7/8 in / “Untitled,” Newport, Rhode Island, 1976. 6 3/8 x 6 3/8 in. All gelatin silver prints.

Francesca Woodman. Detail of “Untitled,” Andover, Massachusetts, c. 1972-74. 3 x 4 1/4 in. Gelatin silver print.

OPENING Thursday October 5th: Francesca Woodman in "RE/SISTERS: A Lens on Gender and Ecology," Barbican Centre, London, October 5, 2023-January 14, 2024

RE/SISTERS reflects on a range of themes related to eco-feminism, unpacking alternate relationships to the natural world which often resist the logic of capitalism, as well as environmental and gender justice. Fifteen photographs by Woodman—many of which have rarely or never before been seen—explore the figure in relation to the landscape.

L to R: Images 1-2: "La RATP invite la Fondation Henri-Cartier Bresson" campaign, Hôtel de Ville station, Paris, France, 2023. Images Courtesy Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation.

"La RATP invite la Fondation Henri-Cartier Bresson" campaign, Hôtel de Ville station, Paris, France, 2023. Image Courtesy Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation.

Francesca Woodman included in Henri Cartier-Bresson Foudation RATP campaign, Hôtel de Ville station, Paris, France, 2023

The Henri-Cartier Bresson Foundation celebrates its 20th anniversary with a campaign of posters in various Paris metro stations highlighting the 70 exhibitions presented since its inception. An image from Francesca Woodman’s 2016 exhibition is currently on view in the Hôtel de Ville station.

Francesca Woodman. “Untitled,” Antella, Italy, c. 1977-78. 4 x 3 7/8 in. Gelatin silver print / Images 2-5: Installation views from “The Rose,” Lumber Room, Portland, OR, 2023. Courtesy the lumber room. Photo: Mario Galluci. © Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.

Francesca Woodman. “Untitled,” Antella, Italy, c. 1977-78. 4 x 3 7/8 in. Gelatin silver print.

NOW OPEN Francesca Woodman in "The Rose," Lumber Room, Portland, OR, July 29-October 28, 2023

Curated by Justine Kurland, this exhibition brings together 44 artists whose works resonate with Jay DeFeo’s cumulative use of materials, including Wangechi Mutu, Hannah Wilke, Moyra Davey, K8 Hardy, Joiri Minaya, Lee Bontecou, and Ruth Asawa, among others. Conceived by Kurland as an homage to DeFeo’s monumental sculptural painting “The Rose” (1958-66), the assembled works on view together from an exhibition as collage.

Spread from Francesca Woodman. "Portraits, Friends, Equations,” c. 1977-1978. © Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.

"Francesca Woodman: The Artist's Books" review in "The Brooklyn Rail," 2023

Read Karen Chernick's review in "The Brooklyn Rail" on "Francesca Woodman: The Artist's Books" published by MACK.

L to R: Charles Woodman, George Woodman, and Betty Woodman, Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy, c. 1966 / George Woodman, Florence, Italy, 1966 / Francesca Woodman and Charles Woodman, Fiesole, Italy, c. 1966 / Charles Woodman and Francesca Woodman, Pompeii, Metropolitan City of Naples, Campania, Italy, 1966 / Charles Woodman and Francesca Woodman, Alhambra, Granada, Spain, c. 1966 / Tile detail Alhambra, Granada, Spain / Detail of George Woodman, ceramic tile installation Delavan-Canisius College Station, NFTA-Metro, Buffalo, NY, 1984 / George Woodman. “A Gentle Tessellation,” 1966-68. 43 1/4 x 43 1/34 in. Acrylic paint on canvas / George Woodman with tile mural commissioned by General Motors and the Detroit Transportation Corporation. Detail of the work in progress on the floor of George's studio, Antella, Italy, 2003. All images Woodman Family Foundation Archives unless otherwise noted. All artworks © Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.

Charles Woodman, George Woodman, and Betty Woodman, Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy, c. 1966. Woodman Family Foundation Archives.

Family trips to Florence, Fiesole, and Pompeii in Italy, and Granada, Spain. c. 1966: SUMMER TRAVELS WITH THE WOODMAN FAMILY

The Woodmans spent another year together just outside of Florence from 1965-66. Betty had a Fulbright-Hays fellowship and George a faculty fellowship from the University of Colorado, while Charlie and Francesca attended the local public school. Of course they did not miss the opportunity to take breaks for traveling and exploring. Here they are wandering through Florence, nearby Fiesole, Pompeii and onward to Granada, Spain where they visited the Alhambra—one of the best-preserved palaces of Islamic architecture, with walls and floors covered in geometric mosaic tiles.

L to R: Francesca Woodman, 1971 / Pair: Betty Woodman, 1971 / George Woodman, 1971 / Francesca Woodman and friend, 1971 / Betty Woodman and friend, 1966 / Francesca Woodman and Charles Woodman, 1966 / George Woodman, 1966 / View of Acropolis of Athens from boat, Athens, Greece, 1966 / Betty Woodman, Greece, 1971 / Francesca Woodman, Greece, 1971. All images Acropolis of Athens, Athens, Greece unless otherwise noted. Woodman Family Foundation Archives.

Francesca Woodman, Acropolis of Athens, Athens, Greece, 1971. Woodman Family Foundation Archives.

Acropolis of Athens, Athens, Greece, 1971 and 1966: SUMMER TRAVELS WITH THE WOODMAN FAMILY

The Woodman family made at least two trips to Greece together—or more as Francesca later described when discussing her monumental diazotype construction of a temple: "It’s funny how while I was living in Italy the culture there didn’t affect me that much and now I have all this fascination with the architecture etc, Francesca who as a child visited the Acropolis 3 times and always yawned.” The impact and influence of classical ruins, the architecture as well as the female form, can also be seen in both Betty’s and George’s work over many decades.

L to R: 1-2: Betty Woodman with Francesca Woodman and Charles Woodman, passport, 1959 / 3-4: George Woodman, passport, 1959 / 5-6: Betty Woodman with Charles Woodman and Francesca Woodman, passport, 1965 / 7-8: George Woodman, passport, 1965 / 9-10: Betty Woodman with Francesca Woodman, passport, 1970. Woodman Family Foundation Archives.

Betty Woodman with Francesca Woodman and Charles Woodman, passport, 1959. Woodman Family Foundation Archives.

The Woodmans' passports, 1959, 1965, and 1970: SUMMER TRAVELS WITH THE WOODMAN FAMILY

As everyone heads out on vacation this August, we’re taking a look back at the Woodman family’s travels throughout the years with images from our archives…Throwback to a time when kids had to be on their moms passport! The Woodman family loved to travel and visited Naples, Milan, Florence, Paris, Quebec, London, Granada, New York City, Croatia (then a part of Yugoslavia), Istanbul, and Copenhagen between 1959 to 1974.

Cover of "Francesca Woodman: The Artist's Books,” MACK, London, UK, 2023. © Woodman Family Foundation / DACS, London; MACK.

Francesca Woodman: The Artist's Books with Collier Schorr, Justine Kurland, Moyra Davey, Drew Sawyer at Rizzoli Bookstore

Collier Schorr, Justine Kurland, and Moyra Davey are in conversation with Drew Sawyer to celebrate the launch of Francesca Woodman: The Artist's Books. This event was held at Rizzoli Bookstore on June 28, 2023, with an introduction by Lissa McClure of The Woodman Foundation.

L to R: Cover of "Francesca Woodman: The Artist's Books,” MACK, London, UK, 2023. © Woodman Family Foundation / DACS, London; MACK / Graphic Courtesy Rizzoli Bookstore.

Cover of "Francesca Woodman: The Artist's Books,” MACK, London, UK, 2023. © Woodman Family Foundation / DACS, London; MACK.

UPCOMING EVENT “Francesca Woodman: The Artist’s Books,” June 28 at 6:45-8:30pm, Rizzoli Bookstore, New York

‍Please join us for a conversation on Francesca Woodman with Collier Schorr, Justine Kurland, Moyra Davey and Drew Sawyer to celebrate the launch of "Francesca Woodman: The Artist’s Books.” The panelists will discuss the influence of Woodman’s work on their respective practices, and the ways in which an examination of these predominantly unseen artist’s books can shed a new light on her remarkable work.

Francesca Woodman. “These people live in that door,” Providence, Rhode Island, 1976-77. 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 in. Vintage gelatin silver print.

Francesca Woodman featured in "The Art Newspaper," June 7, 2023

Big thanks to Jori Finkel for this lovely piece in the Art Newspaper! We’re thrilled to have her share more about the Foundation's plans and exciting things on the horizon for Francesca Woodman.

Francesca Woodman. "Space²," Providence, Rhode Island, 1976. 5 3/8 x 5 1/4 in. Gelatin silver print. Collection of RISD Museum, Providence, Rhode Island.

NOW OPEN Francesca Woodman in “The Performative Self-Portrait” at RISD Museum, Providence, Rhode Island, May 13-November 12, 2023

From capturing themselves in shadows and reflections to trying on alternative or speculative identities, "The Performative Self-Portrait” explores the body as material and medium and photography as vehicle to consider ways artists use self-portraiture to enact the self, question history, and articulate identity. Made between 1930 and the present, works in the exhibition range from new acquisitions to older works on view for the first time.

L to R: Francesca Woodman. “Small sketch for a piece about bridges and tiaras,” New York, January, 1980. 12 1/4 x 31 in. Vintage diazotype / Images 2-3: Details of “Small sketch for a piece about bridges and tiaras,” New York, January, 1980.

Francesca Woodman. “Small sketch for a piece about bridges and tiaras,” New York, January, 1980. 12 1/4 x 31 in. Vintage diazotype.

Francesca Woodman, "Small sketch for a piece about bridges and tiaras," January, 1980: STAFF PICKS

Over many years I’ve had the privilege of being first the curator of Francesca Woodman’s estate and now in my current role with the Woodman Family Foundation, I’ve had an equal number of “favorite” works by the artist. It’s a real challenge to choose just one! “Small sketch for a piece about bridges and tiaras” for me exemplifies the wit, keen observation, and inventiveness characteristic of Francesca Woodman’s photographs and points to her larger concerns as an artist.