Exhibition Spotlight
Betty Woodman and George Woodman
Charleston, East Sussex, England
March 25–September 10, 2023
Representing a decades-long dialogue in ceramics and paint, Betty Woodman and George Woodman brought together for the first time in the UK the artists’ vibrant ceramics, vivid 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 explored the artists’ mutual influences and their shared life immersed in art, culture, travel and experimentation, reflected in kindred palettes and patterns.
Charleston is housed on the grounds of the home, studios, and gardens shared by Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant and frequented by their family and friends from the Bloomsbury Group.
Here you’ll find a round-up of press about the exhibition; video vignettes on individual works; a video comprising footage of the artists talking about their lives and work in Italy; and our own “backstories,” including additional artworks and archival images which shed further light on works, themes, and influences in the exhibition.
Please visit Charleston’s website to learn more.
Press and Publications
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 / George Woodman. "Canova Museum," 2010. 42 x 36 in. Oil on gelatin silver print © Woodman Family Foundation / DACS, London
L to R: Betty Woodman. "His and Hers Vases: Looking Back," 2006. 29 ½ x 45 x 13 ½ in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, and paint / George Woodman. "Blue Arm and Chinese Maiden," 2012. 24 x 19 ½ in. Oil paint on gelatin silver print.
L to R: Betty Woodman. "His and Hers Vases: Looking Back," 2006. 29 ½ x 45 x 13 ½ in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, and paint / George Woodman. "Blue Arm and Chinese Maiden," 2012. 24 x 19 ½ in. Oil paint on gelatin silver print.
Betty Woodman. "Wallpaper 19," 2017. 65 x 59 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, and paint © Woodman Family Foundation / DACS, London
Betty Woodman, George Woodman, and friend outside their home, Antella, Italy, c. 1990s. Woodman Family Foundation Archives.
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Installation view: Betty Woodman and George Woodman at Charleston 2023. © The Charleston Trust; photograph: James Bellorini.
Betty Woodman. "Balustrade Relief Vase 00-5," 2000 / Detail: George Woodman. "Low Balustrade Screen" or "Garden Balustrade Screen"," 1981 © Woodman Family Foundation / DACS, London
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" or "Garden Balustrade Screen," 1981 / George Woodman. "Low Balustrade Screen" or "Garden Balustrade Screen," 1981 42 x 151 ½ in. Each panel 42 x 30 in. Acrylic on canvas.
Videos
Exhibition video and vignettes by Charleston on the occasion of the exhibition.
Still from exhibition video for “Betty Woodman and George Woodman,” Charleston, East Sussex, UK, March 25–September 10, 2023. Exhibition video Charleston Trust. All video interviews Woodman Family Foundation Archives.
Installation view: “Betty Woodman and George Woodman," Charleston, East Sussex, England, 2023.
Video interviews from the Woodman Family Foundation archives included in the exhibition video for “Betty Woodman and George Woodman,” Charleston, East Sussex, UK, March 25–September 10, 2023. Exhibition video Charleston Trust. All video interviews Woodman Family Foundation Archives. All artworks © Woodman Family Foundation / DACS, London.
Still from exhibition video for “Betty Woodman and George Woodman,” Charleston, East Sussex, UK, March 25–September 10, 2023. Exhibition video Charleston Trust. All video interviews Woodman Family Foundation Archives. All artworks © Woodman Family Foundation / DACS, London.
Backstories
Additional artwork and archival images from Betty Woodman and George Woodman’s archives which shed light on works, themes and influences in the exhibition.
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,” 1966. 32 x 32 in. Oil on canvas. Artworks © Woodman Family Foundation / DACS, London
Betty Woodman and George Woodman at Betty’s kiln, Antella, Italy, c. 1973. Woodman Family Foundation Archives.
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 Archives.
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 Archives.
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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; Photo: James Bellorini.
L to R: George Woodman. “Low Balustrade Screen" or "Garden Balustrade Screen,” 1981. 42 x 151 ½ in. Each panel 42 x 30 in. Acrylic on canvas. Photo: John Berens / Betty Woodman. "Balustrade Relief Vase: 00-5,” 2000. 81 x 67 x 8 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, and paint. Photo: Jeff Elstone / Installation view: "Betty Woodman and George Woodman" at Charleston 2023. © The Charleston Trust; photograph: James Bellorini / Betty Woodman. “Italian Window: 11,” 1984. 54 x 33 x 9 in. Glazed earthenware / George Woodman. “Grey Portal,” 1978. 84 x 84 in. Acrylic paint on canvas / Betty Woodman. “Finestra con Persiane 2,” 2009. 97 1/4 x 84 x 15 3/4 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, paint, and canvas / George Woodman. “Untitled,” c. 1990s. 20 x 16 in. Gelatin silver print. Photo: Eliza Little / Betty Woodman. “The Door at the Beach,” 2008. 85 x 95 1/2 x 25 1/4 in. Earthenware, paint, terra sigilatta, and canvas / George Woodman. “Glimpse in my Studio Door,” 2012. 24 x 17 1/4 in. Oil on gelatin silver print.
George Woodman. “Low Balustrade Screen" or "Garden Balustrade Screen,” 1981. 42 x 151 ½ in. Each panel 42 x 30 in. Acrylic on canvas © Woodman Family Foundation / DACS, London
L to R: Pair: George Woodman. “Piazza San Francesco di Paola,” 1965. 32 x 32 in. Oil on canvas / Betty Woodman. “Aztec Vase and Carpet: April,” 2016. 38 1/2 x 58 x 43 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, paint, and canvas / Installation view: George Woodman. “Piazza San Francesco di Paola,” 1965 / Betty Woodman. “Aztec Vase and Carpet: April,” 2016 / Betty Woodman. “Wallpaper 19,” 2017 / Pair: Betty Woodman. “Wallpaper 19,” 2017. 65 x 59 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, and acrylic paint / George Woodman. Paper Tile Installation, 1982. Dimensions variable / Installation view: Betty Woodman. “Aztec Vase and Carpet: April,” 2016 / Betty Woodman. “Wallpaper 19,” 2017 / George Woodman. Paper Tile Installation, 1982 / Betty Woodman. “My House,” 2014. 80 x 84 x 10 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, acrylic paint, canvas, and wood / George Woodman. “Pitti, Medea, Roses,” c. 1988. 41 1/4 x 72 in. Gelatin silver print / Betty Woodman. “Santa Barbara,” 2005. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, paint, and canvas / George Woodman. “Cosmati,” 1966. 60 x 60 in. Oil on canvas / Installation view: George Woodman, "The Rochester Carpet," 1984, Bevier Gallery, RIT, Rochester, New York. Woodman Family Foundation Archives / Betty Woodman. “Aztec Vase and Carpet #3,” 2012. 35 x 85 x 43 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, acrylic paint, and canvas. All Charleston installation views: "Betty Woodman and George Woodman" at Charleston 2023. © The Charleston Trust; photograph: James Bellorini.
Pair: George Woodman. “Piazza San Francesco di Paola,” 1965 / Betty Woodman. “Aztec Vase and Carpet: April,” 2016 / DACS, London
Video interviews from the Woodman Family Foundation archives included in the exhibition video for “Betty Woodman and George Woodman,” Charleston, East Sussex, UK, March 25–September 10, 2023. Exhibition video Charleston Trust. All video interviews Woodman Family Foundation Archives. All artworks © Woodman Family Foundation / DACS, London.
Still from exhibition video for “Betty Woodman and George Woodman,” Charleston, East Sussex, UK, March 25–September 10, 2023. Exhibition video Charleston Trust. All video interviews Woodman Family Foundation Archives. All artworks © Woodman Family Foundation / DACS, London.
Installation Views
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