OBERLIN.- An exhibition of more than 75 photographs by Connecticut-born architectural and dance photographer Philip Trager (b. 1935) just opened at the Allen Memorial Art Museum (AMAM) at Oberlin College and will be on view through June 10, 2007. Philip Trager's luminous and compelling photographs reveal a distinctly personal approach to form and place. The exhibition of gelatin silver, platinum and Iris prints includes evocative images of New England and New York City in the 1970s, elegiac portraits of the villas of Palladio in the 1980s, and glimpses of the ever-changing face of Paris in the 1990s. Trager's architectural photographs capture the subtleties of our built environment with singular nuance and skill. They have become landmarks in architectural photography and standard documents for architectural and art historians as well as architects.

Since the 1980s, Trager has collaborated extensively with contemporary dancers and choreographers to photograph the most evanescent of arts. His expressionistic images of dancers in outdoor settings capture the essence of many of the best contemporary choreographers and dancers. On view are photographs of John Kelly, the Mark Morris Dance Group, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane & Co., and many others.

While some of his photographs arose from commissions throughout his career—including photo essays for The New Yorker, Forbes, and other publications—virtually all others were conceived with book projects in mind. Trager’s books have received exceptional critical acclaim, awards, and other special recognition, including Finalist for the Grand Prix Award at Les Recontres Internationales de la Photographie (Arles, France) and a Book of the Year from the American Institute of Graphic Arts (New York).

The Library of Congress recently acquired a comprehensive archive of Trager’s photographs and will present a retrospective exhibition of his work in 2009.

The Allen’s exhibition, Philip Trager: A Retrospective, organized by AMAM director Stephanie Wiles and Clare Rogan, curator of the Davison Art Center, Wesleyan University, is accompanied by a catalogue co-published by Steidl Publishing.