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--Lamentation ( + War Theme,..., 1935

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham--Lamentation ( + War Theme,..., 1935

Sale Date: October 19, 2004

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - Extasis, 1935

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - Extasis, 1935

Sale Date: October 19, 2004

Auction Closed

Funkia leaf (Solarized), 1950

Barbara Morgan

Funkia leaf (Solarized), 1950

Sale Date: October 19, 2004

Auction Closed

Spring on Madison Square, New York, 1938

Barbara Morgan

Spring on Madison Square, New York, 1938

Sale Date: October 19, 2004

Auction Closed

Cornleaf, 1947–1947

Barbara Morgan

Cornleaf, 1947–1947

Sale Date: June 10, 2004

Auction Closed

Moving light design, 1940–1940

Barbara Morgan

Moving light design, 1940–1940

Sale Date: May 20, 2004

Auction Closed

Martha Graham, war theme, 1944–1944

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham, war theme, 1944–1944

Sale Date: May 20, 2004

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - Letter to the world, 1940–1940

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - Letter to the world, 1940–1940

Sale Date: May 20, 2004

Auction Closed

Doug and Toad--Kitten on stump, 1978

Barbara Morgan

Doug and Toad--Kitten on stump, 1978

Sale Date: December 9, 2003

Auction Closed

Erick Hawkins as El Flagellante in Martha..., 1940

Barbara Morgan

Erick Hawkins as El Flagellante in Martha..., 1940

Sale Date: December 9, 2003

Auction Closed

Macy's window, 1939

Barbara Morgan

Macy's window, 1939

Sale Date: December 9, 2003

Auction Closed

James Prestini's turned wood (set of 6), 1949

Barbara Morgan

James Prestini's turned wood (set of 6), 1949

Sale Date: December 7, 2003

Auction Closed

James Prestini's wood sculptures (set of 6), 1949

Barbara Morgan

James Prestini's wood sculptures (set of 6), 1949

Sale Date: December 7, 2003

Auction Closed

U.F.O. visits New York, 1965–1965

Barbara Morgan

U.F.O. visits New York, 1965–1965

Sale Date: October 31, 2003

Auction Closed

Spring on Madison Square, 1938–1938

Barbara Morgan

Spring on Madison Square, 1938–1938

Sale Date: October 21, 2003

Auction Closed

Erick Hawkins as el flagellante in..., 1940–1940

Barbara Morgan

Erick Hawkins as el flagellante in..., 1940–1940

Sale Date: October 21, 2003

Auction Closed

Two images of Martha Graham: Lamentation, 1935–1935

Barbara Morgan

Two images of Martha Graham: Lamentation, 1935–1935

Sale Date: October 16, 2003

Auction Closed

Valerie Betts - Desperate heart, 1944–1944

Barbara Morgan

Valerie Betts - Desperate heart, 1944–1944

Sale Date: April 30, 2003

Auction Closed

Fossil in formation, 1965–1965

Barbara Morgan

Fossil in formation, 1965–1965

Sale Date: April 26, 2003

Auction Closed

Dance

Barbara Morgan

Dance

Sale Date: April 22, 2003

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - Letter to the world..., 1940–1940

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - Letter to the world..., 1940–1940

Sale Date: February 10, 2003

Auction Closed

City sound, 1972–1972

Barbara Morgan

City sound, 1972–1972

Sale Date: December 5, 2002

Auction Closed

Pearl Primus - Speak to the rivers, 1949–1949

Barbara Morgan

Pearl Primus - Speak to the rivers, 1949–1949

Sale Date: December 5, 2002

Auction Closed

Amaryllis II, 1944–1944

Barbara Morgan

Amaryllis II, 1944–1944

Sale Date: October 24, 2002

Auction Closed

English (US)

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