Photography exhibit opens July 4 in Ocala

“Gasoline Delivery,” ca. 2000, Randal Levenson (American, 1946–2022, pigment print on archival paper, gift of Rustin Levenson. [Photo courtesy College of Central Florida]

On view in the Appleton’s Balcony Gallery for Florida Artists from July 4 through Jan. 24, 2027, “Life, Labor and Lens: Randal Levenson’s Working-Class America” surveys the photographer’s five-decade journey across the United States and the people and places he encountered along the way.

“His images offer a layered account of the American experience: gritty yet beautiful, sentimental yet honest,” the news release stated.

After receiving a Brownie camera from his father as a boy, Levenson developed a lifelong passion for photography. He studied the medium at the Rhode Island School of Design before going on to work with Robert Frank and develop prints for Richard Avedon. In addition to his career as a photographer, he taught at the University of Ottawa and lectured at Harvard and Brown University.

Drawn from the 80 works by Levenson in the Appleton’s permanent collection, “Life, Labor and Lens” features 25 black-and-white and color photographs that evoke a sense of familiarity and nostalgia.

Admission is free on the first Saturday of each month. Additionally, museum admission is free throughout the month of July in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States.

The Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store are open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. The museum is a campus of the College of Central Florida and is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala.

For more information, go to appletonmuseum.org or call (352) 291-4455.