“Bernadette Twirling, Burden Mansion, New York City, 1997” is the title of this photo, a 10-by-8-inch Gelatin silver print, by Rodney Smith.

Reverie and reality: Photographs by Rodney Smith

Rodney Smith, a 1970 U.Va. alumnus, captures in black-and-white photographs the underlying beauty present in the world with haunting or humorous details. A retrospective of his work is on display at the University Art Museum until Aug. 10. He will give a public talk June 7 at 1:30 p.m. in the museum, followed by a reception.

This will be Smith’s first exhibition at his alma mater and include approximately 40 photographs. After receiving his bachelor’s degree, Smith earned a divinity degree from Yale in 1973, where he also studied photography with Walker Evans.

In addition to his award-winning “The Hat Book,” Smith works for The New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, Esquire and GQ. His photographs have been exhibited in galleries on both sides of the Atlantic. His fashion clients include Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue and Ralph Lauren.

In a statement written for the exhibit, he wrote, “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.”