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)
Frontier, 1936

Barbara Morgan

Frontier, 1936

Feldschuh Gallery

Price on Request

Martha Graham, Letter to the World (Kick),..., 1992

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham, Letter to the World (Kick),..., 1992

Feldschuh Gallery

Price on Request

Martha Graham, Frontier (Running), 1935

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham, Frontier (Running), 1935

Sale Date: April 30, 2024

Auction Closed

Swirl, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Swirl, 1940

Sale Date: April 25, 2024

Auction Closed

Helen Tamaris, 1944

Barbara Morgan

Helen Tamaris, 1944

Sale Date: April 10, 2024

Auction Closed

Merce Cunningham (in the Womb), 1942

Barbara Morgan

Merce Cunningham (in the Womb), 1942

Sale Date: April 10, 2024

Auction Closed

Jose Limon and Helen Tamris, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Jose Limon and Helen Tamris, 1940

Sale Date: April 10, 2024

Auction Closed

Mexican Suite-Conquistador, Jose Limon, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Mexican Suite-Conquistador, Jose Limon, 1940

Sale Date: April 10, 2024

Auction Closed

Martha Graham, Every Soul is a Circus, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham, Every Soul is a Circus, 1940

Sale Date: April 10, 2024

Auction Closed

Martha Graham, American Document, 1938

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham, American Document, 1938

Sale Date: April 10, 2024

Auction Closed

Macy's Window, 1939

Barbara Morgan

Macy's Window, 1939

Sale Date: April 10, 2024

Auction Closed

Spring on Madison Square, 1938, 1938

Barbara Morgan

Spring on Madison Square, 1938, 1938

Sale Date: February 28, 2024

Auction Closed

'Martha Graham - Letter to the World' (Kick), 1940

Barbara Morgan

'Martha Graham - Letter to the World' (Kick), 1940

Sale Date: February 8, 2024

Auction Closed

Martha Graham – Letter to the World, 1940, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham – Letter to the World, 1940, 1940

Sale Date: February 22, 2024

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - Letter to the World (Kick), 1940

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - Letter to the World (Kick), 1940

Sale Date: December 1, 2023

Auction Closed

Martha Graham poster, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham poster, 1940

Sale Date: December 1, 2023

Auction Closed

Letter to the World,

Barbara Morgan

Letter to the World, "Kick", 1940

Sale Date: November 28, 2023

Auction Closed

Swirl, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Swirl, 1940

Sale Date: November 28, 2023

Auction Closed

U.F.O. Visits New York, 1965

Barbara Morgan

U.F.O. Visits New York, 1965

Sale Date: November 20, 2023

Auction Closed

Untitled Drawing, 1963

Barbara Morgan

Untitled Drawing, 1963

Sale Date: November 20, 2023

Auction Closed

Beech Tree IV, 1945

Barbara Morgan

Beech Tree IV, 1945

Sale Date: November 20, 2023

Auction Closed

Doug and Toad-Kitten on Stump, 1942

Barbara Morgan

Doug and Toad-Kitten on Stump, 1942

Sale Date: November 20, 2023

Auction Closed

Barbara Nancy Newhall; Barbara Nancy Newhall , 1942

Barbara Morgan

Barbara Nancy Newhall; Barbara Nancy Newhall , 1942

Sale Date: November 20, 2023

Auction Closed

Doug and Toad-Kitten on Stump, 1978

Barbara Morgan

Doug and Toad-Kitten on Stump, 1978

Sale Date: November 18, 2023

Auction Closed

English (US)

©2024 Artnet Worldwide Corporation. All rights reserved.