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)
Martha Graham and group, primitive..., 1938–1946

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham and group, primitive..., 1938–1946

Sale Date: April 18, 2009

Auction Closed

Charles Weidman, the happy hypocrite, 1938–1946

Barbara Morgan

Charles Weidman, the happy hypocrite, 1938–1946

Sale Date: April 18, 2009

Auction Closed

Charles Weidman, Grandfather Hoffman,..., 1938–1946

Barbara Morgan

Charles Weidman, Grandfather Hoffman,..., 1938–1946

Sale Date: April 18, 2009

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1938–1946

Barbara Morgan

Untitled, 1938–1946

Sale Date: April 18, 2009

Auction Closed

Martha Graham (Letter to the world, kick), 1940

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham (Letter to the world, kick), 1940

Sale Date: December 10, 2009

Auction Closed

Corn leaf rhythm, 1945

Barbara Morgan

Corn leaf rhythm, 1945

Sale Date: December 9, 2009

Auction Closed

Happy hypocrite - Charlie Weidman and..., 1938–1946

Barbara Morgan

Happy hypocrite - Charlie Weidman and..., 1938–1946

Sale Date: November 19, 2009

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - Indian solo - American..., 1938–1946

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - Indian solo - American..., 1938–1946

Sale Date: November 19, 2009

Auction Closed

Martha Graham and group - Primitive..., 1938–1946

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham and group - Primitive..., 1938–1946

Sale Date: November 19, 2009

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - Erick Hawkins -..., 1936–1948

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - Erick Hawkins -..., 1936–1948

Sale Date: November 19, 2009

Auction Closed

Le Corbusier in New York, 1946

Barbara Morgan

Le Corbusier in New York, 1946

Sale Date: November 26, 2009

Auction Closed

City shell, 1938

Barbara Morgan

City shell, 1938

Sale Date: November 26, 2009

Auction Closed

Cornleaf - feuille de maïs, 1947

Barbara Morgan

Cornleaf - feuille de maïs, 1947

Sale Date: November 20, 2009

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - Letter to the world, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - Letter to the world, 1940

Sale Date: October 6, 2009

Auction Closed

Merce Cunningham, Totem Ancestor, 1942

Barbara Morgan

Merce Cunningham, Totem Ancestor, 1942

Sale Date: October 6, 2009

Auction Closed

Martha Graham, 1940

Attributed to Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham, 1940

Sale Date: October 8, 2009

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - Letter to the world, Kick, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - Letter to the world, Kick, 1940

Sale Date: September 20, 2009

Auction Closed

Solstice, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Solstice, 1940

Sale Date: June 17, 2009

Auction Closed

Light signature, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Light signature, 1940

Sale Date: May 16, 2009

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - Lamentation, 1935

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - Lamentation, 1935

Sale Date: June 4, 2009

Auction Closed

Beaumont Newhall, Ansel Adams & Willard..., 1942

Barbara Morgan

Beaumont Newhall, Ansel Adams & Willard..., 1942

Sale Date: May 21, 2009

Auction Closed

José Arcadio Limón, 1945

Barbara Morgan

José Arcadio Limón, 1945

Sale Date: May 21, 2009

Auction Closed

Spring on Madison Square, New York, 1938

Barbara Morgan

Spring on Madison Square, New York, 1938

Sale Date: May 19, 2009

Auction Closed

Fossil in Formation, 1965

Barbara Morgan

Fossil in Formation, 1965

Sale Date: April 16, 2009

Auction Closed

English (US)

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