R. C. Gorman
R. C. Gorman was a prominent Native American artist known for his unique contributions to the Indian art scene, often referred to with titles such as the "Picasso of Indian artists" and "the Reservation Dali." Born during the Great Depression in a hogan and raised herding sheep in Canyon de Chelly, Gorman's early influences included a volunteer teacher who nurtured his talent at Ganado High School. After serving in the Navy, he pursued art studies in Mexico City, where he was inspired by Mexican muralists. His move to San Francisco and later to Taos, New Mexico, marked pivotal moments in his career, where he opened his Navajo Gallery in 1968. Gorman's art is characterized by apolitical depictions of strong women, often illustrated in a distinctive, fluid style. He expanded his artistic repertoire to include lithographs, posters, sculptures, and various other mediums, achieving international recognition. Additionally, he established a scholarship fund for Native Americans and received numerous honors for his contributions to the arts, including honorary doctorates and a humanitarian award from Harvard in 1986. His legacy continues to influence the landscape of Native American art.
R. C. Gorman
- Born: July 26, 1932
- Birthplace: Chinle, Arizona
- Died: November 3, 2005
- Place of death: Taos, New Mexico
Category: Artist
Tribal affiliation: Navajo
Significance: One of the most commercially successful Indian painters, Gorman altered the non-Indian standard of Indian art; he was the first Indian artist to own a gallery
Rudolph Carl Gorman, or R. C. Gorman, has been called the “Picasso of Indian artists,” “the Reservation Dali,” and “the Vargas of Indian art,” but he began life in a hogan during the Depression and herded sheep in Canyon de Chelly. At the private Ganado High School, volunteer teacher Jenny Lind influenced his drawing. After four years in the Navy, he won a scholarship from the Navajo tribe to study at Mexico City College in 1958. The muralists of Mexico profoundly shaped his art. In 1962, he moved to San Francisco and then, in 1968, to Taos, New Mexico, opening his Navajo Gallery. His unconventional paintings rapidly changed the Indian art market starting in 1965.
Apolitical images of strong, large women strolling or sitting, often with a child or pottery, drawn with a single line, are his hallmark. He carried these images into lithographs in 1966, posters in 1975, etchings in 1976, silk-screening, bronze sculpture, and ceramics in 1977, cast paper and glass etching in 1985—while continuing to draw and paint with charcoal and pastels. His work enjoys worldwide sales, and he has established a scholarship fund for Native Americans. Honors include the first one-man show for an Indian both in Taos and at the Heye Foundation, honorary doctorate degrees, and the Harvard Humanitarian Award in Fine Arts in 1986.