R. C. Gorman facts for kids

Natoma, a bronze sculpture by R. C. Gorman, at the East–West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii

Rudolph Carl Gorman (born July 26, 1931 – died November 3, 2005) was a famous Native American artist from the Navajo Nation. Many people called him "the Picasso of American Indian artists." His paintings mainly showed Native American women, using smooth shapes and bright colors. He also created sculptures, ceramics, and stone prints. R. C. Gorman loved food and even wrote four cookbooks with his own drawings.

Early Life and Education

Rudolph Carl Gorman was born in Chinle, Arizona. His mother was Adele Katherine Brown, and his father was Carl Nelson Gorman. His father, Carl, was one of the first 29 Navajo Code Talkers. These brave people developed a secret code that American forces used during World War II. This code was so strong that no one could break it.

R. C. Gorman grew up in a traditional Navajo home called a hogan. He started drawing when he was only three years old. His grandmother helped raise him. She told him many Navajo legends and taught him about his family's history of artists. She really encouraged him to become an artist. When he was a child, he would draw on rocks, sand, and mud while tending sheep in Canyon de Chelly. He also made sculptures from clay. His first drawings were of characters like Mickey Mouse and Shirley Temple.

He said that his teacher, Jenny Lind, at Ganado Presbyterian Mission School, inspired him to become a full-time artist. After high school, he joined the United States Navy. Later, he went to college at Northern Arizona University, where he studied literature and art.

In 1958, he received the first scholarship from the Navajo Tribal Council to study art outside the United States. He went to the art program at Mexico City College. There, he learned about and was influenced by the work of Diego Rivera, a famous Mexican artist. He later studied art at San Francisco State University.

Art Career

R. C. Gorman had a successful art career for 42 years, from 1963 until his death in 2005. During this time, he created many different types of art. He made over 500 lithographs (a type of print) and serigraphs (another type of print). He also created at least 28 bronze sculptures. Besides these, he made paper casts, ceramic art, tapestries, glass etchings, and many unique oil and acrylic paintings, oil pastel drawings, and sketches.

In 1963, R. C. Gorman had his first art show at the Zieniewics Gallery in San Francisco, California. The next year, he visited Taos, New Mexico, and met other artists. In 1964, R. C. and his father, Carl N. Gorman, had a special show together called "New Directions in American Indian Art" at the Philbrook Art Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

In 1965, they showed their art together again at the Heard Museum's Gallery of Indian Art in Phoenix, Arizona. A newspaper review called them "Gormans-Father and Son Rebels in Indian Art." That same year, R. C. had his first solo show in Taos, New Mexico, and all his artwork sold out!

In 1966, R. C. made his first lithographs with Jose Sanchez in Mexico City. He also helped start the American Indian Arts Group in San Francisco.

In 1968, R. C. Gorman bought the Manchester Gallery in Taos. He renamed it the Navajo Gallery. This was a very important step because it was the first fine art gallery owned by a Native American artist. He opened it with artwork from 55 different artists.

In 1971, R. C. started making lithographs again with the Tamarind Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He created at least 52 lithographs with them between 1971 and 1975.

A big moment in his career happened in 1973. R. C. attended the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Masterworks from the Museum of the American Indian show in New York City. He was the only living artist whose work was included in this important show. Two of his artworks were even chosen for the front and back covers of the show's catalog. In their review, The New York Times called R. C. Gorman "the Picasso of American-Indian art." This was a huge honor, as Pablo Picasso was a world-famous artist.

In 1974, more of R. C. Gorman's paintings were added to the Museum of the American Indian in New York City. The New York Times wrote that "no one stands higher among living American Indian painters."

Gorman's art was also featured in a TV series about American Indian artists for the Public Broadcasting System (PBS). Other artists in the series included Helen Hardin and Allan Houser.

Later Life

In 1998, R. C. Gorman donated some of his art to help Tom Udall's campaign for election to the U.S. House of Representatives. On April 1, 2003, Gorman gave his personal library of books to Diné College. He did this at the request of the college's president.

On September 18, 2005, Gorman had a fall at his home and was taken to the hospital. He later passed away at age 74 on November 3, 2005. The governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson, ordered flags to be flown at half-staff (halfway down the flagpole) to honor him.

Influences

When R. C. Gorman studied art in Mexico, he learned about the work of Mexican artists like Diego Rivera, David Siqueiros, and Rufino Tamayo. These artists were known for their bold colors and shapes. Their work inspired Gorman to change his own style. He moved from abstract art to a unique style called abstract realism. He used abstract forms and shapes to create his own special realistic style that many people recognize. While in Mexico, he also learned how to make stone lithographs from a master printer. He used lithography throughout his life to create many original prints of his ideas. He often drew directly on the stones used to make the prints.

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).