L to R: Betty Woodman. "Balustrade Relief Vase 00-5," 2000. 81 x 67 x 8 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, and paint / Detail: George Woodman. "Low Balustrade Screen (Garden Balustrade Screen)," 1981 / George Woodman. "Low Balustrade Screen (Garden Balustrade Screen)," 1981 42 x 151 ½ in. Each panel 42 x 30 in. Acrylic paint on canvas.
L to R: Betty Woodman. "Balustrade Relief Vase 00-5," 2000. 81 x 67 x 8 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, and paint / Detail: George Woodman. "Low Balustrade Screen (Garden Balustrade Screen)," 1981 42 x 151 ½ in. Each panel 42 x 30 in. Acrylic paint on canvas.
"Betty Woodman and George Woodman" preview in "Financial Times," February 26, 2023
Read Ajesh Patalay's preview of "Betty Woodman and George Woodman" on view now through September 10, 2023 at Charleston, East Sussex, UK.
L to R: Betty Woodman and George Woodman at Betty’s kiln, Antella, Italy, c. 1973. Woodman Family Foundation Archives / 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 Archives.
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.
L to R: All artworks by George Woodman. Images 1-8: Spreads from “George Woodman,” EYEMAZING 4, 2012 / "Loie and Florentine Aristocrat," 2008. 19 1/4 x 13 1/4 in. Oil paint on gelatin silver print / “La Pietra Madonna,” 2007. 12 x 15 in. Oil paint on gelatin silver print / “Nancy with a Green Leg,” 2005. 24 x 20 in. Oil paint on gelatin silver print / “Loie Wearing an 18th Century Sculpture,” 2012. 24 x 20 in. Oil paint on gelatin silver print / “Angel Grieving Over Lion,” 2007. 24 x 20 in. Oil paint on gelatin silver print / “In La Pietra Library,” 2009. 42 x 36 in. Oil paint on gelatin silver print / “Loie Meets a Rousseau,” 2009. 57 1/2 x 39 1/2 in. Gelatin silver print / “Loie Embraces a Piero di Cosimo,” 2009. 24 x 20 in. Gelatin silver print.
Spread from “George Woodman,” EYEMAZING 4, 2012
George Woodman in "EYEMAZING Magazine," 2012: From the Archives...
“The painted photographs of George Woodman are ripe with mental connections, rich evidence of the artist’s talent for noticing, for witnessing, for making new wholeness,” wrote Clayton Maxwell in a 2012 essay for EYEMAZING magazine, which accompanied a portfolio of his photographs combined with oil paint and other images.
L to R: All artworks by George Woodman. “Three Views of Eleonora,” 2011. 18 x 24 in / “A Geometric Investigation II,” 2009. 24 x 20 in / “Variation on Vermeer,” 2010. 24 x 20 in / “Vermeer and Sleeping Eleonora,” 2010. 59 x 41 1/2 in / George Woodman with Eleonora Picheca, 2011. Courtesy Eleonora Picheca. All gelatin silver prints.
George Woodman. “Three Views of Eleonora,” 2011. 18 x 24 in. Gelatin silver print.
George Woodman's photographs of model Eleonora Picheca, 2008-2012
Thanks to Eleonora for sharing a photo of her and George laughing together (last slide). It reminded us of some of the beautiful photographs George took of her over the years when she sat for him in Italy (2008-2012).
L to R: Charles Woodman, Venice, Italy, 1966 / Charles Woodman and Francesca Woodman, Venice, Italy, 1966 / Betty Woodman and Charles Woodman, Venice, Italy, 1966.
Charles Woodman, Venice, Italy, 1966.
The Woodmans in Venice, Italy, 1966: From the Archives...
As this year’s Venice Biennale, “The Milk of Dreams,” nears its end, we’re reminded that over many decades Betty and George Woodman traveled to Venice to take in the Biennale. Their trip in 1966—pictured here—when the family spent the year in Italy, was likely Charlie and Francesca’s first of many visits there, to explore both the exhibition and this captivating city.
L to R: George Woodman, c. 1970s / George Woodman. “Loie with Sculpture as Herself,” 2007. Gelatin silver print / Painting by George Woodman, c. 1970s. Courtesy Remo Brindisi House Museum / George Woodman, c. 2010s.
George Woodman on view in collection of Remo Brindisi House Museum, Lido Di Spina, Italy
George Woodman on view in this collection of Remo Brindisi House Museum, Lido Di Spina, Italy.
Artworks L to R: George Woodman. “Beauty is Truth,” 1976. 52 x 52 in. Acrylic on canvas / Francesca Woodman. “Charlie the Model #10,” Providence, Rhode Island, 1976-77. 5 5/16 x 5 3/8 in. Vintage gelatin silver print / Betty Woodman. “Rain Forest Pillow Pitcher,” c. 1980s. 20 x 24 x 16 in. Glazed earthenware. Courtesy RISD Museum.
George Woodman. “Beauty is Truth,” 1976. 52 x 52 in. Acrylic on canvas.
RISD Museum Acquisitions
We’re thrilled that RISD Museum has acquired a group of important works by Betty, Francesca, and George Woodman from the Foundation’s holdings through a combination of museum funds and Foundation gifts. RISD occupies a singular place of importance for the Woodman family, from Francesca’s formative years there as a young artist and student to Betty’s 2005 solo exhibition at the museum and RISD Honorary Degree in 2009.
L to R: Betty Woodman, Italy, c. 1965-66 / Betty Woodman, Charles Woodman, and Francesca Woodman, Italy, c. 1960s / Charles Woodman and friend, Italy, c. 1966 / Betty Woodman and friends, Italy, c. 1966 / Betty Woodman, Francesca Woodman, and friend, Antella, Italy, c. 1968 / Betty Woodman and friends, Antella, Italy, c. 1980 / Betty Woodman, Antella, Italy, c. 1995 / George Woodman, Antella, Italy, c. 1995 / Betty Woodman, George Woodman, and friends, Antella, Italy, c. 1995.
Betty Woodman, Italy, c. 1965-66.
Dining al fresco with the Woodman family, c. 1960s-1995: From the Archives...
The Woodman family spent many summer days and evenings dining al fresco in Italy with family and friends throughout the years. Most of these snapshots were taken by George, who often had his camera in hand and documented their family life.
L to R: Betty Woodman, Charles Woodman, and Francesca Woodman, 1959 / George Woodman and Francesca Woodman, 1964 / Francesca Woodman, 1964 / 4-5: Charles Woodman, 1962 / Betty Woodman, 1959.
Betty Woodman, Charles Woodman, and Francesca Woodman, 1959
Summer with the Woodman family, 1959-1964: STAFF PICKS
Emma Horning is a Library and Information Science graduate student at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. As the Foundation’s Archives Intern, she has been digitizing photographic slides and prints in the collection and building a database to manage these archival materials: Summer brings us bountiful sun-drenched days. As a family, the Woodmans spent the summer months soaking in the potential the season brings.
L to R: All artworks by George Woodman. “Untitled,” 1969, ed. of 22. 20 x 28 in / “Untitled,” 1968, ed. of 19. 22 1/2 x 30 in. “Untitled,” c. 1970s. 28 x 20 in / “La Nuvola II,” 1970, ed. of 11. 39 1/4 x 28 in / All screenprints on paper.
George Woodman. “Untitled,” 1969, ed. of 22. 20 x 28 in. Screenprint on paper.
George Woodman's screenprints, c. 1960s-70s: STAFF PICKS
Lissa McClure, The Woodman Family Foundation’s Executive Director: When I began at the Foundation three years ago, after knowing Betty and George for over a decade, I thought I knew most of the work each of the Woodmans had made. I soon realized how wrong I was! One of the biggest surprises, and a pure delight, was encountering George Woodman’s early prints from the ‘60s and ‘70s.
L to R: George Woodman, c. 1960s-1990s.
George Woodman, c. 1960s.
George Woodman's summer travels, c. 1960s-1990s: From the Archives...
Here are a series of portraits of George Woodman, an avid world traveler. George soaked up endless inspiration for art making and life on the family's summer travels throughout the years.