ArchiveExhibition
Betty Woodman and George Woodman
25 Mar-10 Sep 2023
Charleston
Lewes BN8 6LL
Overview
The first exhibition in the UK to show both artists together. Celebrating the work of ground-breaking American ceramic artist Betty Woodman (1930–2018) and painter and photographer George Woodman (1932–2017).
A riot of colour, Betty Woodman and George Woodman brings together the artists’ vibrant ceramics, vivid abstract paintings, radical assemblages, photographs and an early collaboration. Side by side, kindred palettes and patterns emerge, evidence of the couple’s continuous artistic dialogue and mutual influences.
The exhibition highlights the untold story of Antella, a small town south of Florence, Italy where an ancient stone farmhouse became a significant part of the artists’ lives. It was their home and studio, their inspiration and their canvas, and the setting for some of their most important artistic breakthroughs. As George described it, it was ‘an artist residency for two.’ The show explores the work of both artists from the perspective of their shared life, experiences and influences.
Not unlike Bloomsbury artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant who lived at Charleston, the Woodmans lived and worked together for decades. From 1968, they spent part of each year at Antella and created a home full of artistic experimentation and creative expression. Like Charleston, it was a space where art and everyday life were entwined. Archival photography brings Antella to life alongside the works Betty and George created there and beyond.
In this two-person show, the first since the artists’ deaths, we explore the impact of place on artistic creativity and the lasting legacy on the Woodmans’ work.