Curriculum Vitae

Margaret Woodward

Born Margaret Moir Southwell Woodward on 12 January 1938, Sydney, NSW

1942–1953

Margaret’s father Lionel was a lecturer in French at Sydney University and her mother Grace undertook home duties. When her parents divorced, she lived with Grace travelling from place to place while her mother sought work as a maid. Margaret attended a variety of schools ending up at Hornsby Girls High and often participated in her father’s ABC broadcasts on the French language.

1954–55

Margaret excelled at her schooling in English, French and art achieving a first in Leaving Art and a scholarship to the National Art School.

1956–1960

Margaret studied at the National Art School - her teachers included John Passmore and John Olsen who were both early influences. She won the 1956 ‘Nancy Kilgour Memorial Prize’, National Art School, and the ‘Le Gay Brereton Prize’ for drawing in 1959 held at the Art Gallery of NSW. Among other teachers were Godfrey Miller, Wallace Thornton and Peter Laverty with Wallace and Peter remaining Margaret’s lifelong friends.

1961–1963

Taught at Abbotsleigh Girls, Asquith Girls and Hornsby Girls High schools and began an extremely active program of exhibitions. This included an invitation to the ‘Young Artists’ exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne (1963) and a place in the ‘Young Sydney Artists’, Clune Galleries, Sydney. Inherited her father’s home in Hornsby which she gradually renovated, building a studio beneath the house. Margaret married Paul Clapson.

1964–1966

A daughter, Britt, was born. Margaret continued to exhibit and teach part-time, entering the inaugural ‘Portia Geach Memorial Award’ in 1965 among other competitions. Won the ‘Ashfield Prize for Contemporary Painting’ in 1966.

1967–1970

Travelled overseas in 1967 with Britt who became ill for a period. They were based in London, travelled to Holland and Paris, and Margaret saw firsthand many of the artists she admired including Cezanne and Rembrandt. Upon their return, Margaret’s marriage ended, and she returned to teaching at various technical colleges. Finalist in the Archibald Prize in 1970.

1971–1977

Moved to Perth and Margaret commenced a teaching position at Perth Tech later moving to the Western Australian Institute of Technology (Curtin University). She met Robert Juniper and Guy Grey Smith. During this period Margaret exhibited widely including holding her first solo exhibition at John Gild Galleries in Perth in 1972, a finalist in the Archibald in 1971, won the 1971 ‘Wynne Prize’, travelled to outback regions of Western Australia including a journey along the Canning Stock route to Lake Disappointment and Durba Springs, to Sydney for an exhibition, to Java and Indonesia as well as another overseas trip to Holland, Switzerland and France in 1972. In 1976 she was selected for the ‘Ten Western Australian Artists’ at the Art Gallery of Western Australia.

1978–1980

Resigned her teaching position to return to Sydney. Completed the Graduate Diploma in Education, Sydney Teachers’ College and taught from 1979 – 1985 at the Hornsby College of TAFE. She was included in the ‘Georges’ Invitation Prize’ and NGV’s ‘McCaughey Invitation Prize’ in Melbourne. Travel included Indonesia and Hong Kong. Entered a Self-portrait in the 1980 Archibald Prize.

1981–1985

Finalist in the ‘Archibald Prize’ in 1981, 1983, 1984 and 1985. Finalist in the ‘Wynne Prize’ in 1984 and 1985. Winner of the ‘Portia Geach Memorial Award’ in 1983 and 1984. Won the ‘Gosford Prize’ for works on paper in 1985. Solo exhibitions included the Holdsworth Gallery and Barry Stern Gallery in Sydney and Greenhill in Adelaide and Perth. Included in the ‘Mandorla Invitation Exhibition’ in WA and University of NSW’s ‘Invitation Exhibition’. Travel to the Bungle Bungle Ranges and Kimberleys. Continued studies with units in archaeology at the New England University. Her ailing mother and stepfather came to live with Margaret and Britt. Bought a property in the Boree Valley near Laguna NSW and built a studio shack for get aways with friends.

1986–1990

Travel included Fiji, overland to Koobi Fora (eastern edge, Lake Turkana) in Kenya and to the Ethiopian border and Zimbabwe and met Mary Leakey during these travels. Australian travel to Ellery Creek, Alice Springs. Margaret had several solo and group exhibitions and won Sydney’s ‘Kedumba Prize’ for drawing. Won the ‘Wyong Prize for Contemporary Painting’ in 1986 and 1987 and the ‘Wyong Prize for Works on Paper’ in 1990. Her stepfather and mother passed away.

1991–1995

Travel to the Nathan River, Gulf Country in the Northen Territory and Paris where she saw the Cezanne exhibition. Included in several group exhibitions; ‘Australian Masters’ at Solander Galleries in Canberra and New Caledonia, ‘Drawing from Inspiration’ at Ivan Dougherty Gallery, Sydney, ‘Australian Women Artists’ in Brisbane and ‘Australian Art’ at the Australian High Commission in Malaysia amongst others, finalist in the ‘Dobell Drawing Prize’ at the Art Gallery NSW in 1993 and 1994 and the ‘Sulman Prize’ in 1995. Won the ‘Wyong Prize Open Award’ in 1995. Commenced exhibiting in solo shows at the Gomboc Gallery in Perth.

1996–2000

Travel to Darwin, Melville Island, Kakadu and Arnhem Land. Was a finalist in the ‘Archibald Prize’, included in the ‘Wynne Prize Centenary Survey’, the ‘Australian Masters’ exhibitions in 1996 and 2000, the ‘Jeans for Genes’ at the Art Gallery of NSW, and held two person shows with Robert Juniper at the Wagner Gallery in Sydney in 1996 and 1999. Several solo and group exhibitions.

2001– present

Included in the 2001 ‘Dobell Drawing Prize’, the ‘Five Women Artists’ in Berrima, solo exhibitions with Gomboc Gallery including a major show in 2019, exhibitions at Porters Gallery, Sydney, amongst others. In 2003 the Parramatta Heritage Centre held an exhibition of her work, ‘Inside Looking Out’, the first survey exhibition of her work in a public gallery. The exhibition toured regional centres. Roger Fry’s book, Margaret Woodward was published by Beagle Press in 2003. Work by Margaret, Judy Cassab and Nora Heysen was combined into the ‘Drawn Together’ exhibition at the Parramatta Heritage Centre in 2005.The painting Self Portrait as Sarah Wisse Transported was gifted to the National Portrait Gallery in 2018 and included in the 2021 Art Gallery of NSW’s ‘Archie 100’ exhibition to commemorate 100 years of the Archibald Prize. A survey exhibition was held at Abbotsleigh Girls School in 2020. Archival material from Margaret’s studio and letters between Margaret and John Passmore were donated to the Art Gallery of NSW. In 2025 an exhibition of major works from Margaret’s collection was exhibited at Felia Melas Gallery, Woollahra.