Collections

Skip navigation

The Permanent Collection at ICP contains more than 100,000 photographs. Since its opening in 1974, ICP has acquired important historical and contemporary images through a dedicated Acquisitions Committee and through generous donations and bequests from photographers and collectors. The collection spans the history of the photographic medium, from daguerreotypes to gelatin silver and digital chromogenic prints. At present approximately 20,500 records are online. More will be accessible during the course of 2011.

Major archives by individual photographers include:

    More topical archives include:

      Additionally ICP maintains large collections exploring the vernacular tradition in photography: the Barbara Levine Collection of family albums, Daniel Cowin Collection of African American History, and photographically illustrated periodicals such as VU, Regards, Arbeiter Illustriete Zeitung, LIFE Magazine and others. 

      Other major holdings by noted photographers include:

      • W. Eugene Smith (original photographs and research documents donated by Jim Hughes)
      • Among ICP's contemporary holdings are: Mitch Epstein, Hiroh Kikai, Justine Kurland, Liu Zheng, Gillian Laub, Louise Lawler, Vik Muniz, Shirin Neshat, Alessandra Sanguinetti, Collier Schorr, Stephen Shore, Lorna Simpson, Hank Willis Thomas, and Mickalene Thomas.

        SPECIAL LINKS:

        • ICP collection blog: Fans in a Flash Bulb. 
        •