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)
Lloyds head (+ Corn leaf rhythm; 2 works), 1945

Barbara Morgan

Lloyds head (+ Corn leaf rhythm; 2 works), 1945

Sale Date: January 14, 2012

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - stimulation, 1935

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - stimulation, 1935

Sale Date: January 12, 2012

Auction Closed

Spring on Madison Square, 1938

Barbara Morgan

Spring on Madison Square, 1938

Sale Date: January 12, 2012

Auction Closed

Martha Graham, deep song, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham, deep song, 1940

Sale Date: December 8, 2011

Auction Closed

Spring on Madison Square - New York, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Spring on Madison Square - New York, 1940

Sale Date: December 13, 2011

Auction Closed

Peace march, Madison Square, New York, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Peace march, Madison Square, New York, 1940

Sale Date: December 19, 2011

Auction Closed

Martha Graham, 1935

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham, 1935

Sale Date: October 13, 2011

Auction Closed

Martha Graham, Ekstasis - Torso, 1935

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham, Ekstasis - Torso, 1935

Sale Date: September 12, 2011

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - Letter to the world, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - Letter to the world, 1940

Sale Date: September 12, 2011

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - Stimulation, 1935

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - Stimulation, 1935

Sale Date: September 12, 2011

Auction Closed

Spring on Madison Square, 1938

Barbara Morgan

Spring on Madison Square, 1938

Sale Date: September 12, 2011

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - Letter to the world, kick, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - Letter to the world, kick, 1940

Sale Date: June 8, 2011

Auction Closed

Dance (portfolio of 10), 1935–1944

Barbara Morgan

Dance (portfolio of 10), 1935–1944

Sale Date: May 19, 2011

Auction Closed

Hearst over the people (+ Union Square..., 1938–1939

Barbara Morgan

Hearst over the people (+ Union Square..., 1938–1939

Sale Date: May 14, 2011

Auction Closed

Spring on Madison Square (+ Madison Square,..., 1938

Barbara Morgan

Spring on Madison Square (+ Madison Square,..., 1938

Sale Date: May 14, 2011

Auction Closed

City shell (+ Artificial life from the..., 1938

Barbara Morgan

City shell (+ Artificial life from the..., 1938

Sale Date: May 14, 2011

Auction Closed

Lloyd's head (+ Corn leaf rhythm; 2 works), 1945

Barbara Morgan

Lloyd's head (+ Corn leaf rhythm; 2 works), 1945

Sale Date: May 14, 2011

Auction Closed

War theme, 1941

Barbara Morgan

War theme, 1941

Sale Date: April 30, 2011

Auction Closed

Spring on Madison Square, 1938

Barbara Morgan

Spring on Madison Square, 1938

Sale Date: May 28, 2011

Auction Closed

Ansel adams and beaumont newhall in morgan..., 1942

Barbara Morgan

Ansel adams and beaumont newhall in morgan..., 1942

Sale Date: March 1, 2011

Auction Closed

Martha graham - frontier, 1935

Barbara Morgan

Martha graham - frontier, 1935

Sale Date: March 1, 2011

Auction Closed

Corn leaf rhythm, 1945

Barbara Morgan

Corn leaf rhythm, 1945

Sale Date: February 16, 2011

Auction Closed

Charles Weidman, in On my Mother's Side, 1944

Barbara Morgan

Charles Weidman, in On my Mother's Side, 1944

Sale Date: December 4, 2010

Auction Closed

Cadenza, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Cadenza, 1940

Sale Date: December 8, 2010

Auction Closed

English (US)

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