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)
Vision of Penitent, 1941

Barbara Morgan

Vision of Penitent, 1941

Sale Date: September 25, 2013

Auction Closed

Martha Graham, American Document (Puritan..., 1938

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham, American Document (Puritan..., 1938

Sale Date: September 20, 2013

Auction Closed

Martha Graham-Lamentation-(Double Image), 1935

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham-Lamentation-(Double Image), 1935

Sale Date: September 20, 2013

Auction Closed

Spring on Madison Square, 1938

Barbara Morgan

Spring on Madison Square, 1938

Sale Date: September 10, 2013

Auction Closed

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

Barbara Morgan

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

Sale Date: June 13, 2013

Auction Closed

Doris Humphrey, 1938

Barbara Morgan

Doris Humphrey, 1938

Sale Date: June 14, 2013

Auction Closed

Charles Weidman - On My Mother's Side, 1944

Barbara Morgan

Charles Weidman - On My Mother's Side, 1944

Sale Date: June 14, 2013

Auction Closed

City Shell, 1938

Barbara Morgan

City Shell, 1938

Sale Date: May 14, 2013

Auction Closed

Selected images (7 works), 1935–1965

Barbara Morgan

Selected images (7 works), 1935–1965

Sale Date: April 6, 2013

Auction Closed

Letter to the world (Kick), 1940

Barbara Morgan

Letter to the world (Kick), 1940

Sale Date: April 5, 2013

Auction Closed

Pure Energy and Neurotic Man (Light..., 1942

Barbara Morgan

Pure Energy and Neurotic Man (Light..., 1942

Sale Date: March 23, 2013

Auction Closed

Weidman, Lynchtown, Humphrey-Weidman Group, 1938

Barbara Morgan

Weidman, Lynchtown, Humphrey-Weidman Group, 1938

Sale Date: March 23, 2013

Auction Closed

Martha Graham--Letter to the World *..., 1940–1965

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham--Letter to the World *..., 1940–1965

Sale Date: February 26, 2013

Auction Closed

Spring in Madison Square - I, 1972

Barbara Morgan

Spring in Madison Square - I, 1972

Sale Date: December 12, 2012

Auction Closed

Letter to the World, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Letter to the World, 1940

Sale Date: November 17, 2012

Auction Closed

Amaryllis I, 1943

Barbara Morgan

Amaryllis I, 1943

Sale Date: November 1, 2012

Auction Closed

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

Barbara Morgan

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

Sale Date: November 1, 2012

Auction Closed

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

Barbara Morgan

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

Sale Date: October 4, 2012

Auction Closed

Martha Graham, Lamentation

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham, Lamentation

Sale Date: September 25, 2012

Auction Closed

Martha Graham in Imperial Gesture, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham in Imperial Gesture, 1940

Sale Date: June 6, 2012

Auction Closed

Samadhi, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Samadhi, 1940

Sale Date: May 1, 2012

Auction Closed

Use litter basket, 1943

Barbara Morgan

Use litter basket, 1943

Sale Date: December 14, 2008

Auction Closed

City shell, 1938

Barbara Morgan

City shell, 1938

Sale Date: December 14, 2008

Auction Closed

Samadhi, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Samadhi, 1940

Sale Date: December 20, 2011

Auction Closed

English (US)

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