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)
Spring on Madison Square (Photomontage), 1938

Barbara Morgan

Spring on Madison Square (Photomontage), 1938

Sale Date: December 8, 2010

Auction Closed

Artificial life from the laboratory, 1967

Barbara Morgan

Artificial life from the laboratory, 1967

Sale Date: December 2, 2010

Auction Closed

Samadhi, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Samadhi, 1940

Sale Date: December 2, 2010

Auction Closed

Children singing in the rain, 1950

Barbara Morgan

Children singing in the rain, 1950

Sale Date: November 2, 2010

Auction Closed

Charles Weidman - On my mother's side, 1944

Barbara Morgan

Charles Weidman - On my mother's side, 1944

Sale Date: November 24, 2010

Auction Closed

City sound, 1972

Barbara Morgan

City sound, 1972

Sale Date: November 25, 2010

Auction Closed

Le Corbusier, New York, 1946

Barbara Morgan

Le Corbusier, New York, 1946

Sale Date: November 9, 2010

Auction Closed

Cadenza, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Cadenza, 1940

Sale Date: September 28, 2010

Auction Closed

Amarillis seed pod, 1943

Barbara Morgan

Amarillis seed pod, 1943

Sale Date: September 28, 2010

Auction Closed

Dance (portfolio of 10 w/text), 1935–1944

Barbara Morgan

Dance (portfolio of 10 w/text), 1935–1944

Sale Date: October 21, 2010

Auction Closed

Harlem pool, 1934

Barbara Morgan

Harlem pool, 1934

Sale Date: September 16, 2010

Auction Closed

Funkia - leaf, 1950

Barbara Morgan

Funkia - leaf, 1950

Sale Date: June 9, 2010

Auction Closed

Martha Graham celebration trio, 1937

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham celebration trio, 1937

Sale Date: July 16, 2010

Auction Closed

Pure energy & neurotic man, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Pure energy & neurotic man, 1940

Sale Date: July 21, 2010

Auction Closed

Brainwashed, 1966–1969

Barbara Morgan

Brainwashed, 1966–1969

Sale Date: June 9, 2010

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - American Document (Trio), 1938

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - American Document (Trio), 1938

Sale Date: June 3, 2010

Auction Closed

Samadhi, light drawing, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Samadhi, light drawing, 1940

Sale Date: May 16, 2010

Auction Closed

Madison Square, winter, New York, 1938

Barbara Morgan

Madison Square, winter, New York, 1938

Sale Date: May 16, 2010

Auction Closed

City Shell, 1938

Barbara Morgan

City Shell, 1938

Sale Date: May 29, 2010

Auction Closed

Fossil in formation, 1965

Barbara Morgan

Fossil in formation, 1965

Sale Date: May 20, 2010

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - War Theme, 1941

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - War Theme, 1941

Sale Date: April 13, 2010

Auction Closed

Kick and swirl (+ another, lrgr; 2 works..., 1940

Barbara Morgan

Kick and swirl (+ another, lrgr; 2 works..., 1940

Sale Date: April 13, 2010

Auction Closed

Madison Square, winter, New York, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Madison Square, winter, New York, 1940

Sale Date: March 27, 2010

Auction Closed

Ansel Adams and Beaumont Newhall in Barbara..., 1942

Barbara Morgan

Ansel Adams and Beaumont Newhall in Barbara..., 1942

Sale Date: March 27, 2010

Auction Closed

English (US)

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