“We just had the opportunity to revisit the prints — they are simply beautiful. We look forward to putting new acquisitions up in the galleries relatively soon after we acquire them. It’s a wonderful way to introduce the work to our community.”
ANJULI LEBOWITZ, JUDY GLICKMAN LAUDER ASSOCIATE CURATOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY, PORTLAND MUSEUM OF ART
Smith’s meticulous homage to Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres famous 1814 painting Le Grande Odalisque (click here) celebrates the naked form and also highlights the anatomical inaccuracies depicted in Ingres’ work. The distortion and elongation of the model’s body and arm in the painting were harshly criticized when it debuted and Ingres’ priority of sensuality over accuracy is one of the reasons this artwork is often mentioned in discussions about the depiction of femininity and female nudity in art.
December 2021
Rosemary Feitelberg at WWD writes, “Nearly five years after the anniversary of the death of photographer Rodney Smith, there is a renewed appreciation for his work.
Hermès used several of his images as the centerpiece for its holiday campaign and the J. Paul Getty Museum is acquiring 10 of his works for its permanent collection. The Rodney Smith Estate will be leading a series of virtual discussions starting Dec. 8 with “What Makes Fashion Photography Art.””
What Makes Fashion Photography Art
Wednesday, December 8, 2021, 6 PM EST Zoom Webinar
Join us as Paul Martineau, Curator of Photographs at the J. Paul Getty Museum, hosts a discussion on photographs that transcend their origins to be collected by Museums.
Paul Martineau has been one of the world’s foremost advocates in acknowledging the importance and impact of fashion photography on our lives. Leading the acquisition of Rodney Smith’s photographs for inclusion in the permanent collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum, Martineau will host a conversation with Etheleen Staley, Founder, Staley Wise Gallery, Viktória Vámosi, International Model, and Dennis Freedman, Founding Creative Director of W Magazine to discuss what makes Smith’s images transcend their original commission.
Life imitates art. Amidst a wave of Coronavirus self-quarantining, international fans recreate Rodney Smith’s iconic images at home.
Every few years a photographer emerges on the world stage with a unique voice and vision that immediately sets their work apart from anyone else. Cartier Bresson, Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Annie Leibovitz… Rodney Smith’s extraordinary photographs are destined to join the ranks of these masters. 
Inspiration or infringement? Rodney Smith’s photographs have entered the public zeitgeist. Spanning the globe, his largest group of instagram followers comes from Russia, Italy and the United States. Have some enthusiastic fans taken this a step too far?
I’ve spent my life in pursuit of beauty. Observing beauty, and over time creating beauty for myself and or others. I search for beauty in the natural world, but I can see how Rodney searched for it in his soul. BARBARA BARRY, INTERIOR DESIGNER
Rodney Smith’s art reflects a singular view of the world as a place of magic, delight, beauty and whimsy. FREDIE ADELMAN, DIRECTOR, SMITHSONIAN ASSOCIATES
We loved working for someone who got us to do our best work. JARED BARK, FOUNDER, BARK FRAMEWORKS
COLORFUL WORLD: PHOTOGRAPHS BY RODNEY SMITH AT AIPAD!