“Classic composition in black and white has a timeless quality.” – Popular Photography.

Ira McCrudden photographs people.

“Grace Under Pressure.” – Holland Cotter, The New York Times

“Ira McCrudden’s black and white photographs expose exacting moments of graceful buoyancy and awkward collapse among lower class survivors in New York. His revitalization of common but half-buried legends could help make him a most impressive artist. It would appear that he’s already made some classics.

McCrudden’s own resolute intent is dramatic, often light hearted, and humanistic.

The recent exhibit was extraordinary—beautifully absorbing, open spirited, clearly intelligent and illuminated with strength.” – David Hirsh, New York Native

“This Generation: Gay Artist to Watch for.” – HX, feature article

“E. Ira McCrudden may be a young artist but he has mastered the art of looking at something in a way no one else can and make you appreciate and/or understand something in a completely new and different way. During an era when people have been brutally pitted against one another, he has managed to find hope, optimism, and kinship in surprising New York settings.” – Private Lives

“McCrudden finds beauty, strength, humor and vitality in ordinary people doing common things.” – South Shore Record

“Charming.” – PBS Channel 13

Ira’s work has been exhibited at the National Gallery of Australia, Museum of Modern Art (Life of the City), Laguna Gloria Museum (New American Talent), and the Alternative Museum (The National Showcase). His work has also been shown at the Wessel O’Connor Gallery and Barbara Levy Gallery. He has had solo shows at the Wessel O’Connor Gallery, South Street Seaport Museum, Pittsburgh Filmmakers Gallery and Roxbury Arts Group.

His work is in many permanent collection including The Brooklyn Museum, The Institute of Design in Beijing, New York University and The New York Public Library.

Ira was a member of the Visual AIDS Artist Caucus, a small group of artists who created the ubiquitous Red AIDS Ribbon ( ).

The Andrew J. Mellon Fund awarded Ira an honorarium, and The Printmaking Council of New Jersey gave him its annual Printmaking Award.

McCrudden taught at Parsons School of Design and New School University. He also served as an advisor for the Photography Department at Parsons. In 1998 he received a Teach Merit Recognition from The National Advancement for the Arts. Ira was elected to Who’s Who Among American Teachers and served as a panel member at The Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum.

Reviews and Feature articles include The New York Times, The Daily News and PBS.