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)
Letter to the world, 1940–1940

Barbara Morgan

Letter to the world, 1940–1940

Sale Date: October 22, 2002

Auction Closed

Amaryillis bud opening, 1943–1943

Barbara Morgan

Amaryillis bud opening, 1943–1943

Sale Date: October 21, 2002

Auction Closed

Merce Cunningham - Totem ancestor, 1942–1942

Barbara Morgan

Merce Cunningham - Totem ancestor, 1942–1942

Sale Date: October 21, 2002

Auction Closed

Erick Hawkins in Martha Graham's El..., 1949–1949

Barbara Morgan

Erick Hawkins in Martha Graham's El..., 1949–1949

Sale Date: October 21, 2002

Auction Closed

Doug and the toad prince, 1944–1944

Barbara Morgan

Doug and the toad prince, 1944–1944

Sale Date: October 15, 2002

Auction Closed

Samadhi, light drawing, 1940–1940

Barbara Morgan

Samadhi, light drawing, 1940–1940

Sale Date: June 6, 2002

Auction Closed

Girl playing recorder, 1945–1945

Barbara Morgan

Girl playing recorder, 1945–1945

Sale Date: June 6, 2002

Auction Closed

Leaf floating in city, 1972–1972

Barbara Morgan

Leaf floating in city, 1972–1972

Sale Date: June 6, 2002

Auction Closed

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

Barbara Morgan

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

Sale Date: April 18, 2002

Auction Closed

Lynchtown, 1938–1938

Barbara Morgan

Lynchtown, 1938–1938

Sale Date: April 17, 2002

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - Lamentation, 1935–1935

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - Lamentation, 1935–1935

Sale Date: April 15, 2002

Auction Closed

Light drawing, 1940–1940

Barbara Morgan

Light drawing, 1940–1940

Sale Date: April 15, 2002

Auction Closed

Corn stalk, 1945–1945

Barbara Morgan

Corn stalk, 1945–1945

Sale Date: April 15, 2002

Auction Closed

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

Barbara Morgan

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

Sale Date: April 15, 2002

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - Sarabande, 1939–1939

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - Sarabande, 1939–1939

Sale Date: February 19, 2002

Auction Closed

Letter to the world (Swirl), 1940–1940

Barbara Morgan

Letter to the world (Swirl), 1940–1940

Sale Date: December 7, 2001

Auction Closed

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

Barbara Morgan

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

Sale Date: October 5, 2001

Auction Closed

Letter to the world (Kick), 1940–1940

Barbara Morgan

Letter to the world (Kick), 1940–1940

Sale Date: May 9, 2001

Auction Closed

Fossil in formation, 1965–1965

Barbara Morgan

Fossil in formation, 1965–1965

Sale Date: April 26, 2001

Auction Closed

Fossil in formation, 1965–1965

Barbara Morgan

Fossil in formation, 1965–1965

Sale Date: April 25, 2001

Auction Closed

Erik Hawkins, El Penitente, 1940–1940

Barbara Morgan

Erik Hawkins, El Penitente, 1940–1940

Sale Date: April 18, 2001

Auction Closed

Merce Cunningham - Totem ancestor, 1942–1942

Barbara Morgan

Merce Cunningham - Totem ancestor, 1942–1942

Sale Date: April 5, 2001

Auction Closed

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

Barbara Morgan

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

Sale Date: April 5, 2001

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - Letter to the world, 1940–1940

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - Letter to the world, 1940–1940

Sale Date: December 12, 2000

Auction Closed

English (US)

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