Francesca Woodman

photographer

American[1] b. 3 April 1958, Denver, Colorado[1] d. 19 January 1981[1] active 1975–1981

Francesca Woodman (1958–1981) was an American photographer known for her haunting, sensual black and white images featuring the female body in relationship to space, architecture, and art history. Born in Denver to artists Betty and George Woodman, she grew up in a dynamic artistic milieu centered around the University of Colorado Boulder and spent significant time in Tuscany, Italy. She studied photography at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) from 1975–1978, during which she developed her signature style incorporating Victorian literature and classical art history. In 1977, she lived and worked in Rome as part of RISD’s European Honors Program, where she befriended artists and explored the counter-cultural bookshops of the city. Woodman moved to New York City's East Village in 1979, where she continued her work with diazotypes and artist's books until her death at age 23.[1,2]

  • female body
  • architecture
  • art history
  • allegory
  • metaphor
  • implied narrative
  • surrealism
  • Victorian literature

Books

Works by Francesca Woodman

  • 1981 Some Disordered Interior Geometries Synapse Press · artist's book · English First edition published just after her death.
  • 2023 Francesca Woodman: The Artist's Books MACK · book · English Comprehensive volume of all eight unique artist's books.

Exhibitions

  • 1978 Francesca Woodman Photographs Woods-Gerry Gallery, Providence · solo
  • 1986 Francesca Woodman Photographs Wellesley College Museum / Hunter College Art Gallery · solo
  • 2016 Francesca Woodman: On Being an Angel Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson, Paris · solo
  • 2012 Francesca Woodman Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York · solo
  • 2015 Francesca Woodman Moderna Museet, Stockholm · solo

References

  1. Francesca Woodman link
  2. Francesca Woodman Biography. Woodman Family Foundation link