One of the world’s punk pioneers says  she was brought to tears the first time she walked through the Art Gallery of Ontario’s exhibit of her photography.

Patti Smith said the gallery’s arrangement of her work was “extremely beautiful,” and humbling.

The show  features more than 75 works of photography, film and objects from the musician’s personal collection, including such artifacts as Pope Benedict’s slippers, and a  stone from the river where English writer Virginia Woolf drowned herself.

 Many of the photos and artifacts are associated with Smith’s friendship with American photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, which was explored in her award-winning memoir “Just Kids.”

“Patti Smith: Camera Solo” is on view at the AGO through May 19.