L to R: “Untitled,” c. 1977-78, 3 7/16 x 3 7/16 in. / “Untitled,” c. 1977-78, 3 3/8 x 3 3/8 in. / “Untitled,” c. 1979-80, 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 in. / “Untitled,” c. 1979-80, 5 3/4 x 5 3/4 in. / “Still” or “Still Life in House,” 1976, 4 5/8 x 4 1/8 in. / “House #4,” from the “House” series, 1976, 5 3/8 x 5 3/8 in. / “Lightning” or “Lightning Legs,” 1976, 5 3/8 x 5 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. 1977-78, 3 7/16 x 3 7/16 in. Gelatin silver print. © Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
NOW ON VIEW: Francesca Woodman at Gagosian
As the works on view at Gagosian suggest, Francesca Woodman carried ideas with her from place to place, making the exhibition a map of her intellectual odyssey.
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.
NOW ON VIEW: Francesca Woodman at Gagosian
“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.” It’s easy to imagine Francesca Woodman writing the above words in her journal around the same time that she made this suite of photographs in her New York City apartment.
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.
NOW ON VIEW: Francesca Woodman at Gagosian
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.
Francesca Woodman. "Fish Calendar--6 days," c. 1977-78, 3 7/8 x 3 13/16 in. Gelatin silver print. © Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Happy birthday to Francesca Woodman
On this day, we celebrate the extraordinarily talented Francesca Woodman.
L to R: Francesca Woodman. "Blueprint for a Temple (II)," 1980, 171 1/2 x 125 in. Diazotype collage with gelatin silver prints. © Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. / Images 2-3: Detail of "Blueprint for a Temple (II)," 1980 / Installation view of “Francesca Woodman,” Gagosian Gallery, New York, 2024
Francesca Woodman. "Blueprint for a Temple (II)," 1980, 171 1/2 x 125 in. Diazotype collage with gelatin silver prints. © Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
NOW ON VIEW: Francesca Woodman at Gagosian
"Blueprint for a Temple (II)," one of the largest and most ambitious of Francesca Woodman’s works, is on view for the first time in 44 years at Gagosian Gallery.
L to R: “Untitled,” from the “Angel” series, 1977, 3 1/4 x 3 1/4 in. Gelatin silver print. / O’Hagan, Sean. “Francesca Woodman and Julia Margaret Cameron: Portraits to Dream In review – an intriguing double act.” “The Guardian,” 2024. / Quote from “Francesca Woodman and Julia Margaret Cameron: Portraits to Dream In review – an intriguing double act” / “Self-Portrait at Thirteen,” c. 1972, 6 3/4 x 6 11/16 in. Gelatin silver print. All artworks by Francesca Woodman © Woodman Family Foundation / DACS, London.
Francesca Woodman. “Untitled,” from the “Angel” series, 1977, 3 1/4 x 3 1/4 in. Gelatin silver print. © Woodman Family Foundation / DACS, London.
"Francesca Woodman and Julia Margaret Cameron: Portraits to Dream In" in "The Guardian," 2024
In this review on "The Guardian" of “Portraits to Dream In,” Sean O’Hagan underscores the “intriguing pairing” of Francesca Woodman and Julia Margaret Cameron by curator Magdalene Keaney at National Portrait Gallery.
L to R: Images 1-2: Lubow, Arthur. “Francesca Woodman’s Crowning Achievement, and Mystery.” “The New York Times,” 2024. / Quote from “Francesca Woodman’s Crowning Achievement, and Mystery.” / Installation view of “Francesca Woodman,” Gagosian Gallery, New York, 2024. / “Untitled,” c. 1977-78, 5 3/4 x 5 3/4 in. (14.605 x 14.605 cm). Gelatin silver print. / "Lightning” or “Lightning Legs,” 1976, 5 3/8 x 5 3/8 in. (13.653 x 13.653 cm). Gelatin silver print. All artworks by Francesca Woodman © Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Lubow, Arthur. “Francesca Woodman’s Crowning Achievement, and Mystery.” “The New York Times,” 2024.
Francesca Woodman in "The New York Times," March 2024
In today's "New York Times," critic Arthur Lubow sheds light on “Blueprint for a Temple (II)” (currently on view at Gagosian Gallery), a monumental diazotype collage discovered in summer 2022—41 years after the passing of Francesca Woodman.
L to R: Images 1-2: Installation view, “Francesca Woodman and Julia Margaret Cameron: Portraits to Dream In” at National Portrait Gallery, London, 2024 / Francesca Woodman. "Untitled," 1979, 7 3/8 x 9 1/2 in. (18.6 x 24 cm). Gelatin silver print. © Woodman Family Foundation / DACS, London / Julia Margaret Cameron. "The Dream," 1869, 305 x 240 mm. Albumen print. Wilson Center for Photography. / Images 5-6: Poster for “Francesca Woodman and Julia Margaret Cameron: Portraits to Dream In” at National Portrait Gallery, London, 2024
Installation view, “Francesca Woodman and Julia Margaret Cameron: Portraits to Dream In” at National Portrait Gallery, London, 2024
OPENING Thursday, March 21: "Francesca Woodman and Julia Margaret Cameron: Portraits to Dream In," National Portrait Gallery, March 21-June 16, 2024
"Francesca Woodman and Julia Margaret Cameron: Portraits to Dream In" offers fresh perspectives on the work of two of the most influential women in the history of photography who lived and worked nearly a century apart.
All works by Francesca Woodman © Woodman Family Foundation / DACS, London. L to R: "Untitled," c. 1977-78, 3 7/8 x 3 7/8 in. Gelatin silver print. / "Angels, Calendar Notebook," c. 1977-78, 8 3/4 x 7 in. Found notebook with gelatin silver prints. / "Untitled," c. 1977-78, 3 7/8 x 3 7/8 in. Gelatin silver print. / "Untitled," c. 1977-78, 4 9/16 x 4 11/16 in. Gelatin silver print. / "Some Disordered Interior Geometries," c. 1980-81, 9 x 6.5 in. Found notebook with gelatin silver prints. / Woodman, Francesca. "Francesca Woodman: The Artist's Books." MACK, 2023 © MACK
"Untitled," c. 1977-78, 3 7/8 x 3 7/8 in. Gelatin silver print. © Woodman Family Foundation / DACS, London.
“Francesca Woodman: The Artist’s Books” in London
Francesca Woodman’s eight unique artist books demonstrate the artist’s nuanced and sophisticated approach to narrative and sequencing. Don’t miss two opportunities in London to learn more about these remarkable works.
All artworks by Francesca Woodman. L to R: "Untitled," c. 1979-80, 10 3/16 x 10 1/16 in. / "Untitled," c. 1979-80, 6 1/16 x 6 1/8 in. / "Self-Deceit #4," from the "Self-Deceit" series, 1978, 3 9/16 x 3 9/16 in. "From Space²" or "Space²," from the "Space²" series, 1976, 5 3/8 x 5 5/16 in. All gelatin silver prints.
"Untitled," c. 1979-80, 10 3/16 x 10 1/16 in. Gelatin silver print. © Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
OPENING Wednesday, March 13: "Francesca Woodman," Gagosian, March 13-April 27, 2024
Gagosian’s inaugural exhibition of works by Francesca Woodman presents key prints made by the artist from approximately 1975 through 1980. The photographs on view represent a culmination of Woodman’s exploration of the figure in space and prompt a reconsideration of how she drew on classical sculpture and architecture throughout her career.
Customs declaration form penned by George Woodman. Woodman Family Foundation Archives.
Customs declaration form penned by George Woodman. Woodman Family Foundation Archives.
Across oceans and borders, a customs declaration became a promise: FROM THE ARCHIVES...
Around 1952, a young George Woodman in Cambridge, Massachusetts, penned his devotion on a USPS customs form: “Little box with littler box inside” and “1 engagement ring of Navajo silver with turquoises.” The precious 4-ounce package was destined for the hands of Elizabeth Abrahams (later to be known as Betty Woodman) across the ocean in Fiesole, Italy, where she had been living and working for the past year.
L to R: Images 1-4: Betty Woodman’s brushes / Detail of "Roman Girls," 2008, 35 x 70 x 11 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, paint / Detail of "History of the Amphora," 2011, 6 ft. x 8 ft. x 1 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, acrylic paint / Detail of “Country House,” 2005, 66 x 32 x 9 1/2 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer / Woodman’s glazes / Detail of "Spring Wall Relief," 2009, 60 x 48 x 1 in. Glazed earthenware / Detail of "His and Hers Vases: Ferris Wheel," 2006, 28.5 x 73 x 14.5 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, and paint / All works by Betty Woodman. © Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Woodman Family Foundation Archives.
Betty Woodman’s brushes. Woodman Family Foundation Archives.
Betty Woodman's glazes, paints, and brushes: FROM THE ARCHIVES...
Betty Woodman’s numerous glazes, paints, and the varied configurations of brushes—sometimes mixed or assembled by the artist herself to achieve desired color swatches, brushy marks, and parallel stripes—reflect her continuously innovative work with ceramic forms.