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)
SAMADHI (MOVING LIGHT DESIGN), 1940

Barbara Morgan

SAMADHI (MOVING LIGHT DESIGN), 1940

Sale Date: October 8, 1993

Auction Closed

MERCE CUNNINGHAM (TOTEM ANCESTOR), 1942

Barbara Morgan

MERCE CUNNINGHAM (TOTEM ANCESTOR), 1942

Sale Date: October 6, 1993

Auction Closed

Spring on Madison Square, 1938

Barbara Morgan

Spring on Madison Square, 1938

Sale Date: October 6, 1993

Auction Closed

MARTHA GRAHAM, AMERICAN DOCUMENT, 1938

Barbara Morgan

MARTHA GRAHAM, AMERICAN DOCUMENT, 1938

Sale Date: May 23, 1993

Auction Closed

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

Barbara Morgan

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

Sale Date: May 23, 1993

Auction Closed

SPRING ON MADISON AVENUE, 1938

Barbara Morgan

SPRING ON MADISON AVENUE, 1938

Sale Date: April 8, 1993

Auction Closed

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

Barbara Morgan

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

Sale Date: April 7, 1993

Auction Closed

U.F.O. visits New York, 1965–1965

Barbara Morgan

U.F.O. visits New York, 1965–1965

Sale Date: October 14, 1992

Auction Closed

Martha Graham - Lamentation, 1935–1935

Barbara Morgan

Martha Graham - Lamentation, 1935–1935

Sale Date: October 14, 1992

Auction Closed

FUNKIA LEAF (SOLARIZED), 1950

Barbara Morgan

FUNKIA LEAF (SOLARIZED), 1950

Sale Date: October 13, 1992

Auction Closed

CADENZA, 1940

Barbara Morgan

CADENZA, 1940

Sale Date: October 13, 1992

Auction Closed

MARTHA GRAHAM - EKSTASIS -1935, 1980

Barbara Morgan

MARTHA GRAHAM - EKSTASIS -1935, 1980

Sale Date: October 10, 1992

Auction Closed

VALERIE BETTIS-DESPERATE HEART (DOUBLE IMAGE), 1944

Barbara Morgan

VALERIE BETTIS-DESPERATE HEART (DOUBLE IMAGE), 1944

Sale Date: May 13, 1992

Auction Closed

MARTHA GRAHAM-EKSTASIS, 1940

Barbara Morgan

MARTHA GRAHAM-EKSTASIS, 1940

Sale Date: May 13, 1992

Auction Closed

HEARST OVER THE PEOPLE, 1939

Barbara Morgan

HEARST OVER THE PEOPLE, 1939

Sale Date: May 13, 1992

Auction Closed

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

Barbara Morgan

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

Sale Date: April 13, 1992

Auction Closed

Wild bee honeycomb skyscraper, 1973–1938

Barbara Morgan

Wild bee honeycomb skyscraper, 1973–1938

Sale Date: December 10, 1991

Auction Closed

CITY SHELL & MACY'S WINDOW & LAMENTATION, 1935–1939

Barbara Morgan

CITY SHELL & MACY'S WINDOW & LAMENTATION, 1935–1939

Sale Date: December 10, 1991

Auction Closed

MARTHA GRAHAM-LETTER TO THE WORLD, 1940

Barbara Morgan

MARTHA GRAHAM-LETTER TO THE WORLD, 1940

Sale Date: December 10, 1991

Auction Closed

MARTHA GRAHAM - WAR THEME, 1941–1983

Barbara Morgan

MARTHA GRAHAM - WAR THEME, 1941–1983

Sale Date: October 12, 1991

Auction Closed

MARTHA GRAHAM - EVERY SOUL IS A CIRCUS, 1940–1980

Barbara Morgan

MARTHA GRAHAM - EVERY SOUL IS A CIRCUS, 1940–1980

Sale Date: October 12, 1991

Auction Closed

DORIS HUMPHREY-SQUARE DANCE DUET WITH..., 1938–1972

Barbara Morgan

DORIS HUMPHREY-SQUARE DANCE DUET WITH..., 1938–1972

Sale Date: October 12, 1991

Auction Closed

MARTHA GRAHAM - LAMENTATION, 1935–1980

Barbara Morgan

MARTHA GRAHAM - LAMENTATION, 1935–1980

Sale Date: October 12, 1991

Auction Closed

LETTER TO THE WORLD (1940), 1940

Barbara Morgan

LETTER TO THE WORLD (1940), 1940

Sale Date: October 10, 1991

Auction Closed

English (US)

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