Barbara Morgan

(American, 1900–1992)

Barbara Morgan was an American photographer who captured images of professional dancers during their performances. Interested in the visual power of gesture, Morgan froze these ephemeral moments to heighten their symbolic significance. “Primarily, I am after that instant of combustion, when all the energies of the spirit are wonderfully coordinated with the action of the body,” she once said. Born on July 8, 1900 in Buffalo, KS, she moved with her family to Southern California as a child. Morgan went on study painting at the University of California, Los Angeles before moving to New York in 1930. In the city, she was exposed to the photography of Edward Weston and the dance performances of Martha Graham. These two new interests mingled to lead Morgan towards her photography project documenting at least 40 established dancers and choreographers, including Merce Cunningham. The artist also spent time traveling the Southwest, where she documented Navajo and Pueblo Indians dance rituals with watercolors, prints, and photographs. Morgan died on August 17, 1992 in Sleepy Hollow, NY. Today, her works are held in the collections of the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., The Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, among others.

Barbara Morgan Artworks

Artworks for Sale &
Auction Results

Barbara Morgan (808 results)
Two works of art: Leaf Floating in City, 1972

Barbara Morgan

Two works of art: Leaf Floating in City, 1972

Sale Date: November 5, 2015

Auction Closed

Madison Square, 1938

Barbara Morgan

Madison Square, 1938

Sale Date: November 5, 2015

Auction Closed

Martha Graham, Letter to the World (Kick), 1940

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham, Letter to the World (Kick), 1940

Sale Date: October 23, 2015

Auction Closed

City Shell * Fossil in Formation * City Sound (3

Barbara Morgan

City Shell * Fossil in Formation * City Sound (3

Sale Date: October 15, 2015

Auction Closed

Spring on Madison Square, 1938

Barbara Morgan

Spring on Madison Square, 1938

Sale Date: October 15, 2015

Auction Closed

Martha Graham--Letter to the World (kick), 1940

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham--Letter to the World (kick), 1940

Sale Date: October 15, 2015

Auction Closed

Moving Light Design, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Moving Light Design, 1940

Sale Date: June 3, 2015

Auction Closed

Protest, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Protest, 1940

Sale Date: July 11, 2015

Auction Closed

Jose Limon - Cowboy Song, 1944

Barbara Morgan

Jose Limon - Cowboy Song, 1944

Sale Date: July 11, 2015

Auction Closed

Doris Humphrey Square Dance (with Weidman), 1938

Barbara Morgan

Doris Humphrey Square Dance (with Weidman), 1938

Sale Date: July 11, 2015

Auction Closed

Cadenza; Fossil in Formation; Artificial..., 1940

Barbara Morgan

Cadenza; Fossil in Formation; Artificial..., 1940

Sale Date: May 21, 2015

Auction Closed

Martha Graham--Lamentation, 1935

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham--Lamentation, 1935

Sale Date: May 21, 2015

Auction Closed

Martha Graham--Letter to the World (kick), 1940

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham--Letter to the World (kick), 1940

Sale Date: May 21, 2015

Auction Closed

City Sound, 1972, 1972

Barbara Morgan

City Sound, 1972, 1972

Sale Date: May 7, 2015

Auction Closed

Leaf Floating in City, 1972, 1972

Barbara Morgan

Leaf Floating in City, 1972, 1972

Sale Date: May 7, 2015

Auction Closed

Spring on Madison Square,, 1938

Barbara Morgan

Spring on Madison Square,, 1938

Sale Date: May 3, 2015

Auction Closed

Pure Energy & Neurotic Man,, 1945

Barbara Morgan

Pure Energy & Neurotic Man,, 1945

Sale Date: May 3, 2015

Auction Closed

Martha Graham, Letter to the World (The Kick

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham, Letter to the World (The Kick

Sale Date: May 3, 2015

Auction Closed

Martha Graham, Ekstasis,

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham, Ekstasis,

Sale Date: May 3, 2015

Auction Closed

Macy's Window,, 1939

Barbara Morgan

Macy's Window,, 1939

Sale Date: May 3, 2015

Auction Closed

Desperate Heart, Valerie Bettis, 1944

Barbara Morgan

Desperate Heart, Valerie Bettis, 1944

Sale Date: March 6, 2015

Auction Closed

Martha Graham, Letter to the World (Kick),..., 1940

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham, Letter to the World (Kick),..., 1940

Sale Date: March 5, 2015

Auction Closed

Martha Graham, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham, 1940

Sale Date: February 26, 2015

Auction Closed

José Limón, 1944

Barbara Morgan

José Limón, 1944

Sale Date: February 26, 2015

Auction Closed

English (US)

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