Rudolph Carl Gorman (July 26, 1931 – November 3, 2005) was aNative Americanartist of theNavajo Nation. He was referred to as "thePicasso of American Indian artists" byThe New York Times,^[1] and his paintings are primarily of Native American women and characterized by fluid forms and vibrant colors, though he also worked in sculpture, ceramics, and stone lithography. He was also an avid lover of cuisine, authoring four cookbooks, (with accompanying drawings) calledNudes and Food.^[2]

Rudolph Carl Gorman was born inChinle, Arizona, to Adele Katherine Brown^[3] andCarl Nelson Gorman. His father, Carl, was one of the original twenty-nineNavajo Code Talkers, who, along with his colleagues, developed the unbreakable code American forces used in the Pacific Theater during World War II.^[4]

R. C. Gorman grew up in a traditional Navajohogan, and began drawing at age 3.^[5] His grandmother helped raise him, recounting Navajo legends and enumerating his genealogy of artist ancestors. She kindled his desire to become an artist. While tending sheep inCanyon de Chelly with his aunts, he used to draw on the rocks, sand, and mud, and made sculptures with the clay, with his earliest subjects includingMickey Mouse andShirley Temple.

He credited a teacher, Jenny Lind at Ganado Presbyterian Mission School, for his inspiration to become a full-time artist.^[5] After he left high school, he served in theUnited States Navy before entering college, where he majored in literature and minored in art atNorthern Arizona University.

In 1958, he received the first scholarship from theNavajo Tribal Council to study outside of the United States, and enrolled in the art program atMexico City College.^[6] There he learned of and was influenced by the work ofDiego Rivera. He later studied art atSan Francisco State University, where he also worked as a model. He was openly gay.^[7][8]

Gorman had professional art career from 1963 (his first public exhibition by an established gallery) until his death in 2005 – 42 years. During this time, he produced over 500 lithographic and serigraphic works,^[9] at least 28 Bronze Sculptures,^[10] as well as an unknown number of papercasts, ceramic editions, tapestries, glass etchings, and one-of-a-kind oil and acrylic paintings, oil pastel drawings, and sketches.^[9]

1963 - R.C. Gorman held his first exhibition at the Zieniewics Gallery in San Francisco, CA^[11]

1964 - Gorman visits Taos and meets Henry Manchester andDorothy Brett. A show is arranged for the next year.^[12]

1964 - R.C. and his fatherCarl N. Gorman are invited to do a two-person show,"New Directions in American Indian Art", at the Philbrook Art Center in Tulsa, OK.^[11]

1965 - R.C. and Carl exhibit together at theHeard Museum's Gallery of Indian Art in Phoenix, Arizona. John Becklaw, writes a review in theArizona Republic under the headline: "Gormans-Father and Son Rebels in Indian Art"^[11]

1965 - R.C. hold his first exhibition at the Manchester in Taos, New Mexico.^[11] The show sells out.^[10]

1966 - R.C. makes his first ever lithographs with Jose Sanchez in Mexico City.

1966 - R.C. helps organize American Indian Arts Group in San Francisco and serves as chairman of its painting committee.^[11]

1968 - R.C. borrows money from his parents to purchase the Manchester Gallery.^[13] He renames it the Navajo Gallery.^[11] It is the first Native American owned fine art gallery.^[14] He opens with 55 artists showing.

1971 - R.C. resumes his lithography and makes his first Lithographs with theTamarind Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico.^[11] He will go on to produce at least 52 lithographs between 1971 and 1975 with Tamarind.

1973 - R.C. attends theMetropolitan Museum of Art'sMasterworks from the Museum of the American Indian in New York City. He is the only living artist to be included in the show and his artwork is used for the front and back cover of the show's catalog. In their review of the show, the New York Times refers to R.C. Gorman as "the Picasso of American-Indian art"^[15] (an honor asPicasso had died at 91 in France in April of that same year).

1974 - R.C. Gorman's paintings are among the arts added to the Museum of the American Indian on Broadway in New York City. In an article, the New York Times says, "no one stands higher among living American Indian painters."^[16]

Gorman moved from California toNew Mexico, opening the Navajo Gallery inTaos in 1968. It was the first Native American-owned art gallery.^{[17][citation needed]}

In 1973, he was the only living artist whose work was shown in the "Masterworks from the Museum of the American Indian" exhibition held atMetropolitan Museum inNew York City. Two of his pieces were selected for the cover of the exhibit's catalog.^[18]

Gorman's work was explored in a series on American Indian artists for thePublic Broadcasting System (PBS). Other artists in the series includedHelen Hardin,Charles Loloma,Allan Houser,Joseph Lonewolf, andFritz Scholder.^[19]

In 1998, he donated art forTom Udall's campaign for election to theU.S. House of Representatives.^{[citation needed]} On April 1, 2003, Gorman donated his personal library toDiné College at the request of the college's president,Cassandra Manuelito-Kerkvliet.^[20]

On September 18, 2005, Gorman fell at his home and was taken to Holy Cross Hospital in Taos. On September 26, he was transferred toUniversity of New Mexico Hospital (inAlbuquerque). He died at age 74 on November 3. New Mexico governorBill Richardson ordered flags flown at half-staff in his honor.

Gorman learned about the work of the Mexican social realists:Diego Rivera,David Siqueiros, andRufino Tamayo.^[21] He became inspired by their colors and forms to change from abstraction to abstract realism. He used abstract forms and shapes to create his own unique, personal realistic style, recognizable to all who are acquainted with his work. While in Mexico, he also learned stone lithography from a master printer, Jose Sanchez. He used lithography throughout his life as a means of making original multiple images of his inspirations, often working by drawing directly on the stones from which the lithographs were printed.

• R. C. Gorman Day, State of New Mexico (January 8, 1979)^{[citation needed]}
• R. C. Gorman Day, San Francisco, California (March 18, 1986)^{[citation needed]}
• New Mexico's Governor's Award of Excellence (1989)^[22]
• Alumnae of the Year Award, National Association of Colleges and Universities (November 1993)^{[citation needed]}
• Camino Real Award, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Santa Fe, New Mexico (1995)^{[citation needed]}
• Los Amigos del Turismo Cultural Award, Santa Fe, New Mexico (1996)^{[citation needed]}
• A Golden Palm Star on thePalm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to him (2002).^[23]
• After Gorman's death, New Mexico governor Bill Richardson ordered flags flown at half-staff in his honor (2005)

• Greenberg, Henry (1996).Power of a Navajo. Carl Gorman The Man and His Life. Santa Fe, New Mexico: Clear Light Publishers.ISBN 9780940666825.
• Monthan, Guy; Monthan, Doris (1975).Art and Indian Individualist. A profile of 17 Southwest native American Artists. Flagstaff, Arizona: Northland Press.ISBN 0-87358-137-7.
• Monthan, Doris (1978).R.C. Gorman The Lithographs. A study of Lithographs 1970-1978. Flagstaff, Arizona: Northland Press.ISBN 0-87358-179-2.