thumb|right|Natoma, patinated bronze sculpture of a Navajo dancer by R. C. Gorman, [[East–West Center, Honolulu, Hawaii]]
Rudolph Carl Gorman (July 26, 1931 – November 3, 2005) was a Native American artist of the Navajo Nation. He was referred to as "the Picasso of American Indian artists" by The New York Times, 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) called Nudes and Food.
Early life and education
Rudolph Carl Gorman was born in Chinle, Arizona, to Adele Katherine Brown and Carl Nelson Gorman. His father, Carl, was one of the original twenty-nine Navajo Code Talkers, who, along with his colleagues, developed the unbreakable code American forces used in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
R. C. Gorman grew up in a traditional Navajo hogan, and began drawing at age 3. 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 in Canyon 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 including Mickey Mouse and Shirley Temple.
He credited a teacher, Jenny Lind at Ganado Presbyterian Mission School, for his inspiration to become a full-time artist. There he learned of and was influenced by the work of Diego Rivera. He later studied art at San Francisco State University, where he also worked as a model. He was openly gay.
Career
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, at least 28 Bronze Sculptures, 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.
1964 - Gorman visits Taos and meets Henry Manchester and Dorothy Brett. A show is arranged for the next year.
1964 - R.C. and his father Carl N. Gorman are invited to do a two-person show, "New Directions in American Indian Art", at the Philbrook Art Center in Tulsa, OK. He renames it the Navajo Gallery. He opens with 55 artists showing.
1971 - R.C. resumes his lithography and makes his first Lithographs with the Tamarind Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico. (an honor as Picasso 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."
Gorman moved from California to New Mexico, opening the Navajo Gallery in Taos in 1968. It was the first Native American-owned art gallery.
In 1973, he was the only living artist whose work was shown in the "Masterworks from the Museum of the American Indian" exhibition held at Metropolitan Museum in New York City. Two of his pieces were selected for the cover of the exhibit's catalog.
Gorman's work was explored in a series on American Indian artists for the Public Broadcasting System (PBS). Other artists in the series included Helen Hardin, Charles Loloma, Allan Houser, Joseph Lonewolf, and Fritz Scholder.
Later life
In 1998, he donated art for Tom Udall's campaign for election to the U.S. House of Representatives. On April 1, 2003, Gorman donated his personal library to Diné College at the request of the college's president, Cassandra Manuelito-Kerkvliet.
On September 18, 2005, Gorman fell at his home and was taken to Holy Cross Hospital in Taos. On September 26, he was transferred to University of New Mexico Hospital (in Albuquerque). He died at age 74 on November 3. New Mexico governor Bill Richardson ordered flags flown at half-staff in his honor.
Influences
Gorman learned about the work of the Mexican social realists: Diego Rivera, David Siqueiros, and Rufino Tamayo. 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.
Awards and honors
- R. C. Gorman Day, State of New Mexico (January 8, 1979)
- R. C. Gorman Day, San Francisco, California (March 18, 1986)
- New Mexico's Governor's Award of Excellence (1989)
- Alumnae of the Year Award, National Association of Colleges and Universities (November 1993)
- Camino Real Award, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Santa Fe, New Mexico (1995)
- Los Amigos del Turismo Cultural Award, Santa Fe, New Mexico (1996)
- A Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to him (2002).
- After Gorman's death, New Mexico governor Bill Richardson ordered flags flown at half-staff in his honor (2005)