Betty Woodman

(American, 1930–2018)

Betty Woodman was a ceramic artist best known for her exuberantly colorful and inventive work which gained recognition in the early 1970s. She often worked with a deconstructed version of the traditional ceramic vessel, with her pieces ranging from massive site-specific murals to fragmentary columns and carpet-like floor pieces. “It makes good sense to use clay for pots, vases, pitchers, and platters, but I like to have things both ways,” the artist explained. “I make things that could be functional, but I really want them to be considered works of art.” In its use of color and pattern, Woodman’s early work can be seen as a reaction to the overwhelmingly austere Minimalist and Conceptual aesthetic prevalent at the time. Born on May 14, 1930 in Norwalk, CT, she studied art at Alfred University, and was notably the mother of the celebrated late photographer Francesca Woodman. Betty Woodman’s works can be found in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, among others. She died on January 3, 2018 at the age of 87.

Betty Woodman Artworks

Betty Woodman (314 results)
Covered Jar, 1978

Betty Woodman

Covered Jar, 1978

Sale Date: July 26, 2013

Auction Closed

Handled Basket, 1978

Betty Woodman

Handled Basket, 1978

Sale Date: July 26, 2013

Auction Closed

Tall Vessel, 1978

Betty Woodman

Tall Vessel, 1978

Sale Date: July 26, 2013

Auction Closed

Girl from Kyoto (triptych), 1984

Betty Woodman

Girl from Kyoto (triptych), 1984

Sale Date: June 6, 2013

Auction Closed

Pillow pitcher, 1984

Betty Woodman

Pillow pitcher, 1984

Sale Date: June 13, 2013

Auction Closed

Cube Tray / Classical Pitchers #5, 1988

Betty Woodman

Cube Tray / Classical Pitchers #5, 1988

Sale Date: June 6, 2013

Auction Closed

Girl from Kyoto, 1990

Betty Woodman

Girl from Kyoto, 1990

Sale Date: April 25, 2013

Auction Closed

Girl from Kyoto, 1990

Betty Woodman

Girl from Kyoto, 1990

Sale Date: April 25, 2013

Auction Closed

Girl from Kyoto, 1990

Betty Woodman

Girl from Kyoto, 1990

Sale Date: April 25, 2013

Auction Closed

Vases and Lattice #5, 1989

Betty Woodman

Vases and Lattice #5, 1989

Sale Date: April 25, 2013

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1990

Betty Woodman

Untitled, 1990

Sale Date: April 25, 2013

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1991

Betty Woodman

Untitled, 1991

Sale Date: April 25, 2013

Auction Closed

Senza titolo (2 parts)

Betty Woodman

Senza titolo (2 parts)

Sale Date: February 16, 2013

Auction Closed

Pompeian Garden

Betty Woodman

Pompeian Garden

Sale Date: February 16, 2013

Auction Closed

Senza titolo, 2009

Betty Woodman

Senza titolo, 2009

Sale Date: February 16, 2013

Auction Closed

French Garden vase, 1983

Betty Woodman

French Garden vase, 1983

Sale Date: October 28, 2012

Auction Closed

Terra Sigillata Teapot, 1978

Betty Woodman

Terra Sigillata Teapot, 1978

Sale Date: October 21, 2012

Auction Closed

Tang Glazed Centerpiece, 1980

Betty Woodman

Tang Glazed Centerpiece, 1980

Sale Date: October 21, 2012

Auction Closed

Limpari Landscape, 2000

Betty Woodman

Limpari Landscape, 2000

Sale Date: October 2, 2012

Auction Closed

Untitled (in 3 parts), 2006

Betty Woodman

Untitled (in 3 parts), 2006

Sale Date: June 16, 2012

Auction Closed

Pillow pitcher, 1980–1989

Betty Woodman

Pillow pitcher, 1980–1989

Sale Date: June 16, 2012

Auction Closed

Cup with Stand, 1985

Betty Woodman

Cup with Stand, 1985

Sale Date: June 1, 2012

Auction Closed

Tang Glazed Centerpiece, 1980

Betty Woodman

Tang Glazed Centerpiece, 1980

Sale Date: June 1, 2012

Auction Closed

Brooklyn Museum benefit- vase upon vase..., 2010

Betty Woodman

Brooklyn Museum benefit- vase upon vase..., 2010

Sale Date: April 19, 2012

Auction Closed