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)
Spring on Madison Square, 1938

Barbara Morgan

Spring on Madison Square, 1938

Sale Date: April 4, 1995

Auction Closed

Peace Marché Madison Square, New York City, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Peace Marché Madison Square, New York City, 1940

Sale Date: April 4, 1995

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - Letter to the world, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - Letter to the world, 1940

Sale Date: April 4, 1995

Auction Closed

Martha Graham- letter to the world, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham- letter to the world, 1940

Sale Date: December 14, 1994

Auction Closed

Martha Graham, 1941

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham, 1941

Sale Date: December 14, 1994

Auction Closed

Spring on Madison Square, 1938

Barbara Morgan

Spring on Madison Square, 1938

Sale Date: November 13, 1994

Auction Closed

DANCE, 1935–1944

Barbara Morgan

DANCE, 1935–1944

Sale Date: October 6, 1994

Auction Closed

Fossil in Formation, 1965

Barbara Morgan

Fossil in Formation, 1965

Sale Date: October 5, 1994

Auction Closed

Spring on Madison Square, 1933

Barbara Morgan

Spring on Madison Square, 1933

Sale Date: October 3, 1994

Auction Closed

MARTHA GRAHAM-LETTER TO THE WORLD (KICK), 1940

Barbara Morgan

MARTHA GRAHAM-LETTER TO THE WORLD (KICK), 1940

Sale Date: October 3, 1994

Auction Closed

HEARST OVER THE PEOPLE, 1939

Barbara Morgan

HEARST OVER THE PEOPLE, 1939

Sale Date: April 23, 1994

Auction Closed

WILD-BEE HONEYCOMB SKYSCAPER, 1973

Barbara Morgan

WILD-BEE HONEYCOMB SKYSCAPER, 1973

Sale Date: April 23, 1994

Auction Closed

Martha Graham, 1940

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham, 1940

Sale Date: April 22, 1994

Auction Closed

SPRING ON MADISON SQUARE (PHOTOMONTAGE), 1938

Barbara Morgan

SPRING ON MADISON SQUARE (PHOTOMONTAGE), 1938

Sale Date: April 22, 1994

Auction Closed

MARTHA GRAHAM PHOTOMONTAGE, 1940

Barbara Morgan

MARTHA GRAHAM PHOTOMONTAGE, 1940

Sale Date: April 20, 1994

Auction Closed

MARTHA GRAHAM - EL PENITENTE..., 1940

Barbara Morgan

MARTHA GRAHAM - EL PENITENTE..., 1940

Sale Date: November 21, 1993

Auction Closed

MARTHA GRAHAM, LAMENTATION, 1935

Barbara Morgan

MARTHA GRAHAM, LAMENTATION, 1935

Sale Date: November 21, 1993

Auction Closed

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

Barbara Morgan

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

Sale Date: November 21, 1993

Auction Closed

EMANATION-1940, 1940–1980

Barbara Morgan

EMANATION-1940, 1940–1980

Sale Date: October 9, 1993

Auction Closed

CITY SHELL 1938-1950, 1980

Barbara Morgan

CITY SHELL 1938-1950, 1980

Sale Date: October 9, 1993

Auction Closed

THE KICK, 1940–1986

Barbara Morgan

THE KICK, 1940–1986

Sale Date: October 9, 1993

Auction Closed

MERCE CUNNINGHAM: TOTEM ANCESTOR, 1942

Barbara Morgan

MERCE CUNNINGHAM: TOTEM ANCESTOR, 1942

Sale Date: October 8, 1993

Auction Closed

MARTHA GRAHAM: LETTER TO THE WORLD (KICK), 1940

Barbara Morgan

MARTHA GRAHAM: LETTER TO THE WORLD (KICK), 1940

Sale Date: October 8, 1993

Auction Closed

ARTIFICIAL LIFE FROM TEST TUBE (PHOTOMONTAGE), 1967

Barbara Morgan

ARTIFICIAL LIFE FROM TEST TUBE (PHOTOMONTAGE), 1967

Sale Date: October 8, 1993

Auction Closed

English (US)

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