Gift of Martin Blumenthal

Barbara Morgan was an American photographer who captured images of professional dancers during their performances. She studied 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. Her works are held in the collections of the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC; Museum of Modern Art, New York; and, National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, among others.