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)
Leaping in the blender, 1965

Barbara Morgan

Leaping in the blender, 1965

Sale Date: March 27, 1997

Auction Closed

Samadhi (Light drawing), 1940

Barbara Morgan

Samadhi (Light drawing), 1940

Sale Date: November 21, 1996

Auction Closed

Photomontage - city street, 1937

Barbara Morgan

Photomontage - city street, 1937

Sale Date: October 3, 1996

Auction Closed

Letter to the world, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Letter to the world, 1940

Sale Date: October 2, 1996

Auction Closed

Erick Hawkins in 'Free Stater--Kansas', 1942

Barbara Morgan

Erick Hawkins in 'Free Stater--Kansas', 1942

Sale Date: April 24, 1996

Auction Closed

Martha Graham, lamentation, 1935

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham, lamentation, 1935

Sale Date: April 24, 1996

Auction Closed

Beaumont Newhall, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Beaumont Newhall, 1940

Sale Date: April 24, 1996

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - Letter to the world (Swirl), 1940

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - Letter to the world (Swirl), 1940

Sale Date: December 14, 1995

Auction Closed

Pregnant, 1945

Barbara Morgan

Pregnant, 1945

Sale Date: December 14, 1995

Auction Closed

Pure energy and neurotic man, 1938

Barbara Morgan

Pure energy and neurotic man, 1938

Sale Date: December 5, 1995

Auction Closed

Graham - 'El Penitente', 1940

Barbara Morgan

Graham - 'El Penitente', 1940

Sale Date: December 5, 1995

Auction Closed

Pregnant, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Pregnant, 1940

Sale Date: December 5, 1995

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - Letter to the world, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - Letter to the world, 1940

Sale Date: October 7, 1995

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - Ekstatis, 1935

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - Ekstatis, 1935

Sale Date: October 5, 1995

Auction Closed

Third Avenue El, 1936

Barbara Morgan

Third Avenue El, 1936

Sale Date: October 5, 1995

Auction Closed

Spring on Madison Square, 1938

Barbara Morgan

Spring on Madison Square, 1938

Sale Date: June 17, 1995

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - Frontier, 1935

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - Frontier, 1935

Sale Date: June 17, 1995

Auction Closed

Martha Graham Frontier, 1935

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham Frontier, 1935

Sale Date: June 3, 1995

Auction Closed

Martha Graham frontier, 1935

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham frontier, 1935

Sale Date: June 3, 1995

Auction Closed

Merce Cunningham: totem ancestor, 1942

Barbara Morgan

Merce Cunningham: totem ancestor, 1942

Sale Date: June 3, 1995

Auction Closed

Martha Graham, lamentation, 1935

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham, lamentation, 1935

Sale Date: April 6, 1995

Auction Closed

Martha Graham, El Penitente (solo - Eric..., 1940

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham, El Penitente (solo - Eric..., 1940

Sale Date: April 6, 1995

Auction Closed

Hearst over the people, 1939

Barbara Morgan

Hearst over the people, 1939

Sale Date: April 6, 1995

Auction Closed

Ice on window I or Window ice form I, 1942

Barbara Morgan

Ice on window I or Window ice form I, 1942

Sale Date: April 6, 1995

Auction Closed

English (US)

©2024 Artnet Worldwide Corporation. All rights reserved.