This exhibition presents a selection of 130 works from the exceptional photography collection donated to IMMA from Dr David Kronn, showcasing his longstanding commitment to building a diverse collection of photographic works for nearly 30 years.

Photography has held a lifelong fascination for Irish-born US-based collector Dr Kronn. A doctor specialising in medical genetics, his attraction to the scientific processes used in photography is not surprising. The donation contains examples of many photographic forms and media, from 19th century Daguerrotypes and albumen prints; the microphotography of Karl Blossfeldt from the 1920s; or pin-hole camera images by Adam Fuss from the 1980s.

Other themes that emerge throughout the collection include abstracted landscapes or seascapes; portraits of artists, such as August Sander’s image of Heinrich Hoerle at work in 1931; the portrait of Louise Bourgeois by Annie Leibovitz from 1997; and numerous iconic works, like Herb Ritts’s image of pop star Madonna from 1986. Irish artists showing as part of this exhibition include Alice Maher, Richard Mosse, and Ameila Stein and international photographers such as Harry Callahan who made work in Ireland in the 1970s.

Currently there is no major collection of international photography collection housed in any Irish museum. Dr Kronn’s pledge to make IMMA the future home of his extensive collection, now over 1000 photographs, will position IMMA as a centre of research and a major force in the field.

In close collaboration with the Collections Team at IMMA who are guiding the acquisition process, this is the fourth exhibition from the David Kronn Collection Donation, since 2011 IMMA has held three exhibitions from the Collection – Out of the Dark Room, Second Sight and Northern Light – showcasing over 300 works.