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, letter to the world, 1940–1940

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham, letter to the world, 1940–1940

Sale Date: November 9, 2000

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - Frontier, 1940–1949

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - Frontier, 1940–1949

Sale Date: October 12, 2000

Auction Closed

Amaryllis II, 1944–1944

Barbara Morgan

Amaryllis II, 1944–1944

Sale Date: April 6, 2000

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - Frontier, 1935–1939

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - Frontier, 1935–1939

Sale Date: April 6, 2000

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - Deep song, 1935–1939

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - Deep song, 1935–1939

Sale Date: April 6, 2000

Auction Closed

Letter to the world, 1940–1940

Barbara Morgan

Letter to the world, 1940–1940

Sale Date: April 6, 2000

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - Letter to the world, 1940–1940

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - Letter to the world, 1940–1940

Sale Date: April 4, 2000

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1940–1940

Barbara Morgan

Untitled, 1940–1940

Sale Date: April 4, 2000

Auction Closed

Doug and the toad Prince, 1944–1944

Barbara Morgan

Doug and the toad Prince, 1944–1944

Sale Date: April 4, 2000

Auction Closed

Charles Sheeler by his favorite beech..., 1944–1944

Barbara Morgan

Charles Sheeler by his favorite beech..., 1944–1944

Sale Date: April 3, 2000

Auction Closed

Merce Cunningham Leap, a duet with..., 1942–1942

Barbara Morgan

Merce Cunningham Leap, a duet with..., 1942–1942

Sale Date: April 3, 2000

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - Lamentation, 1935–1935

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - Lamentation, 1935–1935

Sale Date: April 3, 2000

Auction Closed

Henya, 1938–1938

Barbara Morgan

Henya, 1938–1938

Sale Date: March 10, 2000

Auction Closed

Ballet dancer

Barbara Morgan

Ballet dancer

Sale Date: November 15, 1999

Auction Closed

Madison Square, 1938–1938

Barbara Morgan

Madison Square, 1938–1938

Sale Date: October 8, 1999

Auction Closed

Third Avenue el, 1936–1936

Barbara Morgan

Third Avenue el, 1936–1936

Sale Date: October 8, 1999

Auction Closed

Martha Graham--deep song, 1939–1939

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham--deep song, 1939–1939

Sale Date: October 7, 1999

Auction Closed

Pregnant, 1945–1945

Barbara Morgan

Pregnant, 1945–1945

Sale Date: October 7, 1999

Auction Closed

Lloyd's head, 1944–1944

Barbara Morgan

Lloyd's head, 1944–1944

Sale Date: October 7, 1999

Auction Closed

Martha Graham, letter to the world (kick), 1940–1940

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham, letter to the world (kick), 1940–1940

Sale Date: October 7, 1999

Auction Closed

Lloyds Head, 1945–1945

Barbara Morgan

Lloyds Head, 1945–1945

Sale Date: October 6, 1999

Auction Closed

Leaping in the blender, 1965–1965

Barbara Morgan

Leaping in the blender, 1965–1965

Sale Date: September 24, 1999

Auction Closed

Children singing in the rain, 1950–1950

Barbara Morgan

Children singing in the rain, 1950–1950

Sale Date: September 24, 1999

Auction Closed

Letter to the world, 1940–1940

Barbara Morgan

Letter to the world, 1940–1940

Sale Date: June 9, 1999

Auction Closed

English (US)

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