Barbara Morgan (1900–1992)
What is Barbara Morgan’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 200 auction results for Barbara Morgan at 21 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,250 including buyer’s premium (middle half $665–$2,413, n=21). The auction record is $25,000 for MARTHA GRAHAM – "LETTER TO THE WORLD" (KICK) (2020, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dance, 1935-1944 | Photographs | $13,200 | Swann Auction Galleries | May 2011 |
| 2 | Letter to the World, 1950 | Cartes-de-visite | $11,875 | Phillips | Jun 2019 |
| 3 | Martha Graham – Letter to the World, 1900 | Gelatin silver print, mounted on board, printed 1979 | $10,710 | Christie's | Apr 2025 |
| 4 | Martha Graham--Ekstasis, 1935 | Pencil | $8,125 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2014 |
| 5 | Martha Graham--Ekstasis., 1900 | MORGAN | $8,125 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2014 |
| 6 | Letter to the World (The Kick), 1972 | Cartes-de-visite | $7,560 | Phillips | Jan 2023 |
| 7 | PREGNANT WOMAN, 1940 | Cartes-de-visite | $6,875 | Sotheby's | Jul 2020 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MARTHA GRAHAM – "LETTER TO THE WORLD" (KICK), 1940 | Mounted, signed, titled, dated, annotated 'No Cropping' and with reduction notations in ink on the mount, signed, titled, dated, and extensively annotated in ink and stamped on the reverse | $25,000 | Sotheby's | Apr 2020 |
| 2 | Martha Graham – Letter to the World, 1940, 1980 | Cartes-de-visite | $9,450 | Christie's | Feb 2024 |
| 3 | Martha Graham in 'Letter to the World.', 1940 | Pencil | $8,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | May 2005 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 7 | $2,250 |
| Photographs | 134 | $1,725 |
| Other | 24 | $1,645 |
| Prints | 7 | $1,200 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 142 | $1,820 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 19 | $819 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 200 results from 21 houses · How we compute these figures
Barbara Morgan is an American artist with 372 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $1,498. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.
A work by Barbara Morgan sold in 2026 for $1,536, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
1 Barbara Morgan work is coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Barbara Morgan free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Barbara Morgan record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Barbara Morgan on OpeningBid →What is a Barbara Morgan work worth?
Across 199 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Barbara Morgan work is $1,498.
The median Barbara Morgan photograph sells for $1,612 across 176 lots.
The median Barbara Morgan print sells for $1,200 across 7 lots.
The median Barbara Morgan work on paper sells for $1,012 across 2 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Barbara Morgan photographs typically sell for $800–$3,000 (the middle half of 153 sold lots).
Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
Price breakdown by category
| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 7 | $1,200 | $2,413 | — | 2026-06-26 |
| Works on Paper | 3 | $1,012 | $1,125 | 66.7% | 2024-12-17 |
| Photography | 234 | $1,612†‡ | $25,000 | 75.2% | 2026-10-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 11 | $8,125 | $25,000 | — | 2025-04-17 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $512–$1,226 | $819 | $2,413 |
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 153 | $800–$3,000†‡ | $1,725†‡ | $25,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 14 | $625–$3,188 | $974 | $6,750 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2020 | $25,000 |
| Photography | 2011 | $13,200 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $2,413 |
| Prints & Editions | 1998 | $1,265 |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $1,125 |
| Works on Paper | 2002 | $900 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Barbara Morgan worth?
Across 199 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Barbara Morgan work is $1,498. The median Barbara Morgan photograph sells for $1,612 across 176 lots. The median Barbara Morgan print sells for $1,200 across 7 lots. The median Barbara Morgan work on paper sells for $1,012 across 2 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Barbara Morgan photographs typically sell for $800–$3,000 (the middle half of 153 sold lots). Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is the average price of a Barbara Morgan photograph?
Based on 176 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Barbara Morgan photograph is $1,612. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is Barbara Morgan's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Barbara Morgan photograph is $25,000.
What is the average price of a small Barbara Morgan photograph?
Based on 153 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Barbara Morgan photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,725, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is the average price of a medium Barbara Morgan photograph?
Based on 14 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Barbara Morgan photograph (medium (50–120 cm)) is $974, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is Barbara Morgan's auction record?
Barbara Morgan's auction record is $25,000, set in 2020.
See the full Barbara Morgan record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Barbara Morgan on OpeningBid →