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)
EVERY SOUL IS A CIRCUS (1939), 1990

Barbara Morgan

EVERY SOUL IS A CIRCUS (1939), 1990

Sale Date: October 10, 1991

Auction Closed

MARTHA GRAHAM (1937) AND MARTHA GRAHAM AND..., 1990

Barbara Morgan

MARTHA GRAHAM (1937) AND MARTHA GRAHAM AND..., 1990

Sale Date: October 10, 1991

Auction Closed

MARTHA GRAHAM-CELEBRATION- (TRIO:..., 1937–1980

Barbara Morgan

MARTHA GRAHAM-CELEBRATION- (TRIO:..., 1937–1980

Sale Date: October 8, 1991

Auction Closed

Spring on Madison Square, 1938–1980

Barbara Morgan

Spring on Madison Square, 1938–1980

Sale Date: October 8, 1991

Auction Closed

MARTHA GRAHAM-LETTER TO THE WORLD-(SWIRL), 1940–1980

Barbara Morgan

MARTHA GRAHAM-LETTER TO THE WORLD-(SWIRL), 1940–1980

Sale Date: October 8, 1991

Auction Closed

MARTHA GRAHAM-LAMENATION; VALERIE..., 1935–1983

Barbara Morgan

MARTHA GRAHAM-LAMENATION; VALERIE..., 1935–1983

Sale Date: October 8, 1991

Auction Closed

MARTHA GRAHAM. DEEP SONG, 1937

Barbara Morgan

MARTHA GRAHAM. DEEP SONG, 1937

Sale Date: June 24, 1991

Auction Closed

SAMADHI, 1940

Barbara Morgan

SAMADHI, 1940

Sale Date: April 30, 1991

Auction Closed

HEARST OVER THE PEOPLE, 1939

Barbara Morgan

HEARST OVER THE PEOPLE, 1939

Sale Date: April 30, 1991

Auction Closed

MARHTA GRAHAM, LETTER TO THE WORLD..., 1940–1941

Barbara Morgan

MARHTA GRAHAM, LETTER TO THE WORLD..., 1940–1941

Sale Date: April 30, 1991

Auction Closed

Spring on Madison Square, 1938–1965

Barbara Morgan

Spring on Madison Square, 1938–1965

Sale Date: April 30, 1991

Auction Closed

Spring on Madison Square, 1938–1938

Barbara Morgan

Spring on Madison Square, 1938–1938

Sale Date: April 15, 1991

Auction Closed

MARTHA GRAHAM - EKSTASIS, 1940–1940

Barbara Morgan

MARTHA GRAHAM - EKSTASIS, 1940–1940

Sale Date: March 23, 1991

Auction Closed

MARTHA GRAHAM--DEATHS AND ENTRANCES, 1981–1981

Barbara Morgan

MARTHA GRAHAM--DEATHS AND ENTRANCES, 1981–1981

Sale Date: October 18, 1990

Auction Closed

SELECTED IMAGES, 1944–1944

Barbara Morgan

SELECTED IMAGES, 1944–1944

Sale Date: October 17, 1990

Auction Closed

SELECTED IMAGES, 1935–1944

Barbara Morgan

SELECTED IMAGES, 1935–1944

Sale Date: October 17, 1990

Auction Closed

SELECTED IMAGES, 1940–1945

Barbara Morgan

SELECTED IMAGES, 1940–1945

Sale Date: October 17, 1990

Auction Closed

CADENZA (LIGHT DRAWING)

Barbara Morgan

CADENZA (LIGHT DRAWING)

Sale Date: October 17, 1990

Auction Closed

SELECTED IMAGES, 1938–1944

Barbara Morgan

SELECTED IMAGES, 1938–1944

Sale Date: October 17, 1990

Auction Closed

DANCE PORTFOLIO, 1935–1944

Barbara Morgan

DANCE PORTFOLIO, 1935–1944

Sale Date: October 17, 1990

Auction Closed

SELECTED IMAGES, 1938–1938

Barbara Morgan

SELECTED IMAGES, 1938–1938

Sale Date: October 17, 1990

Auction Closed

SELECTED IMAGES, 1939–1939

Barbara Morgan

SELECTED IMAGES, 1939–1939

Sale Date: April 26, 1990

Auction Closed

'MARTHA GRAHAM - LETTER TO THEWORLD', 1940–1940

Barbara Morgan

'MARTHA GRAHAM - LETTER TO THEWORLD', 1940–1940

Sale Date: April 26, 1990

Auction Closed

SELECTED IMAGES, 1940–1940

Barbara Morgan

SELECTED IMAGES, 1940–1940

Sale Date: April 26, 1990

Auction Closed

English (US)

©2024 Artnet Worldwide Corporation. All rights reserved.