A retrospective of the powerful photographs of Rodney Smith, a 1970 alumnus of the University, will open at the University of Virginia Art Museum Friday, May 16. With a blend of spontaneity and composure, these images often include haunting or humorous details. In each painstakingly printed black-and-white print, Smith succeeds in capturing the underlying beauty present in the world around us.

As he writes in his artist statement: "Even while photographing for the world of fashion, my interest is not in what is new or fashionable, but rather what endures and is graceful, stylish, and beautiful."
This will be Smith’s first exhibition at his alma mater. It will include approximately 40 photographs and is organized as a retrospective look at his intensive career.

Smith will present a gallery talk during the University’s Reunion Weekend on Saturday, June 7, at 1:30 p.m. at the U.Va. Art Museum. The talk, which is open to the public, will be followed by a reception.
A catalog accompanies the exhibition, which is sponsored in part by the University’s Arts Enhancement Fund.

After receiving his bachelor’s degree Smith earned a master of divinity degree from Yale University in 1973, where he also studied photography with Walker Evans. His publications include "In the Land of Light" and the award-winning "The Hat Book." He has shown his work at the Robert Klein Gallery and The Pucker Gallery, both in Boston; Gallery Zur Stockeregg, Zurich; and the Witkin Gallery, New York. He has worked on assignment for BMW, IBM, Kodak, Starbucks Coffee and Visa. His fashion clients include Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue and Ralph Lauren, and among his editorial clients are The New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, Esquire and GQ.

The exhibit was organized by Jon Stuhlman, the 2002-03 Museum-McIntire Department of Art Graduate Fellow.
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Photographs are available. Contact Jane Ford at (434) 924-4298 or jford@virginia.edu.

The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Limited parking is available behind the museum. The museum is handicap accessible. For details about the exhibit and information about the museum, call (434) 924-3592.