Native American Artists Resource Collection

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Artist Information - Detailed View

Name

R. C. Gorman

Alternate name:

Picasso of American Art

R.C. Gorman

Rudolph Carl "R. C." Gorman

Rudolph Carl Gorman

Heritage

Navajo

Gender

male

Dates

Lifespan

1932-2005

Date Note

birth date July 26, 1932; death date November 3, 2005

Birthplace

Chinle

Arizona

Specialty / Medium

painting

acrylic painting

watercolor painting

oil painting

oil pastel

lithograph

serigraph

drawing

ink drawing

pencil drawing

sculpture

poster

cast paper

bas-relief

art calendar

paperwork

woman as a theme in art

External Remarks

Artist's file in Billie Jane Baguley Library and Archives, Heard Museum.

Artist represented in the Native American Artists Collection (RC62) of the Heard Museum Archives.

Bulk of artist information has been transferred to Document Case(s).

Artist’s physical folder is filed alphabetically in the Native American Artists Resource Collection under the following name:

Gorman, R. C.

Artist's work is represented in the object collection of the Heard Museum

Exhibits

Personal Journeys: American Indian Landscapes. Heard Museum. Phoenix, Arizona. Opened February 28, 2016.
Chocolate, Chili & Cochineal: Changing Taste Around the World. Heard Museum. Phoenix, Arizona. February 16, 2013 - October 27, 2013.
Personal Journeys: American Indian Landscapes. Heard Museum North. Scottsdale, Arizona. October 22, 2009 - March 14, 2010.
Beyond Face Value. Heard Museum North. Scottsdale, Arizona. April 18, 2009 - October 4, 2009.
Common Ground: Contemporary Native American Art from the Permanent Collection and Private Collections. Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block. Tucson, Arizona. October 18, 2002 - May 18, 2003.
Drawn from Memory: James T. Bialac Collection of Native American Art. Heard Museum. Phoenix, Arizona. February 24, 1996 - September 3, 1996.
Bridges and Boundaries (Brucken und Abgrenungen). Peiper-Riegraf Gallery. Frankfurt, Germany. October 9, 1995 - November 6, 1995. Note: artists include David Bradley, Rick Bartow, Bob Haozous, Edgar Heap of Birds, Delbridge Honanie, David Johns, Mike Kabotie, Linda Lomahaftewa, Jean LaMarr, Dan Namingha, Jaune Quick-to-see Smith, Darren Vigil-Gray, Maxine Toya and Emmi Whitehorse.
Shared Visions: Native American Painters and Sculptors in the Twentieth Century. Heard Museum. Phoenix, Arizona. April 13, 1991 - July 28, 1991.
Visions from the Present: Contemporary Native American Art from Heard Museum Collection. Heard Museum. Phoenix, Arizona. September 18, 1982 - October 17, 1982.
100 Years of Native American Painting. The Oklahoma Museum of Art. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. March 5, 1978 - April 16, 1978.
Tony Begay Memorial Show. Heard Museum. Phoenix, Arizona. February 2-17, 1974. Note: exhibition and auction to benefit the children of Tony Begay; includes artwork by Tony Begay and many of his Indian artist friends.
Tenth Scottsdale National Indian Arts Exhibition. Executive House. Scottsdale, Arizona. February 27, 1971 - March 7, 1971.
R.C. Gorman. Museum of Indian Arts. San Franciso, California. November 2-19, 1968. Note: one-man exhibit of paintings.
Heard Museum Indian Arts and Crafts Show. Heard Museum. Phoenix, Arizona. April 6-21, 1968.

Awards

Tenth Scottsdale National Indian Arts Exhibition, Section A: Paintings, Classification V - Graphic Arts, Division A - Drawings: Honor Mention. Executive House. Scottsdale, Arizona. March 7, 1971.
Tenth Scottsdale National Indian Arts Exhibition, Section A: Paintings, Classification V - Graphic Arts, Division B - Prints: Second Award. Executive House. Scottsdale, Arizona. March 7, 1971.
Heard Museum Indian Arts and Crafts Show, Classification III - Any Other Medium, Indian Motif: First Award. Awarded for painting: "The Long Walk to Bosque Redondo". Heard Museum. Phoenix, Arizona. April 6, 1968.

Publications

Found 42 record(s)

Citation	Pages	Publication Date	Artist Citation Notes	Website
. "American Indian Art in New Mexico: Traditional and Contemporary". Encanto Magazine, vol. 3, no. 6 (December 1970-January 1971). 1970.	17	1970	Includes photograph of a painting entitled "Submitting Acoma" which was exhibited recently at the "National Indian Arts and Crafts Exhibition" at the Heard Museum, Phoenix, Arizona. \| Includes Charles Lovato, Tony Begay, R.C. Gorman, and Patrick Swazo Hinds.
. "Artists of the Year". Santa Fean Magazine, vol. 9, no. 1 (January/February 1981). 1981.	27	1981
. "Early Reaction to the Death of Navajo Artist R.C. Gorman". Indian Trader, vol. 36, no. 11 (November 2005). 2005.	6	2005	Newspaper article. Includes reactions by Bill Richardson, Ferlin Clark, Della Warrior, Marita Hinds, and Joe Shirley, Jr.
. "Gorman Is Laid to Rest". Indian Trader, vol. 36, no. 12 (December 2005). 2005.	7-8	2005	Newspaper article.
. "Judge Throws Out Claim Against R.C. Gorman's Estate". Indian Trader, vol. 39, no. 1 (January 2008). 2008.	7	2008	Newspaper article
. "Muted Majesty: Painting Canyons & Deserts". Western Art Collector, no. 117 (May 2017). 2017.	80	2017	Includes color reproduction of R.C. Gorman's oil painting, "Slain Yeibichai". \| Published in the magazine's "Collector's Focus" column.
. "Navajo Artist R.C. Gorman Dies at Age 74". Indian Trader, vol. 36, no. 11 (November 2005). 2005.	cover, 5-6	2005	Newspaper article
. "R.C. Gorman, Artist". Santa Fean Magazine, vol. 4, no. 6 (August 1976). 1976.	36-37	1976
Archuleta, Margaret and Rennard Strickland. ~Shared Visions: Native American Painters and Sculptors in the Twentieth Century. Phoenix, Arizona: Heard Museum. 1991.	55, 93	1991	Catalog of an exhibition; includes essays by Joy L. Gritton and W. Jackson Rushing.
Chase, Katherine. ~"Navajo Painting". Plateau, vol. 54, no. 1 (1982). 1982.	21	1982	Thematic issue of Plateau. Painters cited include Harrison Begay, Narcisso Abeyta, Quincy Tahoma, Gerald Nailor, Andy Tsinajinnie, Beatien Yazz, Robert Chee, James Wayne Yazzie, R.C. Gorman, David Chetlahe Paladin, Mary Morez, Clifford Beck, Justin Tso, Clifford Brycelea, Robert Draper, W.B. Franklin, Bahe Whitehorne, Sr., and Tony Begay.
Farris, Phoebe. "Visual Power: 21st Century Native American Artists/Intellectuals". American Studies, vol. 46, no. 3-4 (fall/winter 2005). 2005.	254	2005	Article simultaneously appears in the continuation, Indigenous Studies Today: an International Journal, for issue 1 (fall 2005/spring 2006); and in the monograph Indigeneity at the Crossroads of American Studies as a contribution to an edited work. Includes bibliographical references.
Fauntleroy, Gussie. "Visionary and Inventive: R.C. Gorman (1931-2005) Opened Doors for Other Native Artists and Welcomed Everyone into His World". Western Art & Architecture, vol. 17, no. 4 (August/September 2023). 2023.	98-102	2023
Frontain, Dick. "Memories of a Long-Time Friend - R.C. Gorman". Indian Trader, vol. 36, no. 12 (December 2005). 2005.	7-8	2005	Newspaper article.
Gibson, Daniel. "Indian Imagery: a Torrent of Creativity Unleased". Santa Fean Magazine, vol. 17, no. 7 (August 1989). 1989.	18-19	1989
Gibson, Daniel. "R.C. Gorman, Artist". Santa Fean Magazine, vol. 19, no. 1 (January/February 1991). 1991.	64-70	1991
Golden Dawn Gallery. Golden Dawn Gallery: Tsa-sah-wee-eh, M. Bagshaw, Pablita Velarde. Santa Fe, New Mexico: Golden Dawn Gallery. 2009.	cover	2009	On cover: group portrait photograph dated 1968 of Helen Hardin, Margarete Bagshaw, and Pablita Velarde taken by R.C. Gorman. \| Golden Dawn Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico opened on August 19, 2009, and featured artists Margarete Bagshaw, Pablita Velarde, and Helen Hardin. The gallery is the exclusive estate representative for Helen Hardin and Pablita Velarde.
Greenberg, Henry and Georgia Greenberg. Carl Gorman's World. Albuquerque, New Mexico: University of New Mexico Press. 1984.	48, 50, 54+	1984	Includes bibliographical references and index.
Greenberg, Henry, Georgia Greenberg, and R.C. Gorman (writer of introduction). Power of a Navajo: Carl Gorman: the Man and His Life. Santa Fe, New Mexico: Clear Light Publishers. 1996.	vi-x, 1-3+	1996	Includes bibliographical references and index.
Heard Museum. Tony Begay Memorial Show, February 2nd-17th, 1974, the Heard Museum, Phoenix, Arizona. Phoenix, Arizona: Heard Museum. 1974.		1974	Catalog brochure of an exhibition, sale show, and auction organized and coordinated by fellow Indian artists with the assistance of many friends of Tony Begay. Participating artists based on catalog brochure and invitation include Jimmy Abeita, Clifford Beck, James Cody, Robert Draper, R.C. Gorman, Helen Hardin, Neil David, Jr., Delbridge Hohnanie, Michael Kabotie, Milland Lomakema, Terrance Talaswaima, Ernest Lewis, Roger Lewis , Charles Lovato, Al Momaday, Patrick "Swazo" Hinds, Marvin Toddy, Dennison Tsosie, Pablita Velarde, Anna Walters, Beatien Yazz [Jimmy Toddy], Joseph Lonewolf, Fred Beaver, Tony Da, Robert Freeman, Jerry Ingram, Grace Medicine Flower, Preston Monongye, Jimmy Toddy, and Boyd Warner. Catalog brochure and invitation also available online.	View
Henkes, Robert. ~Native American Painters of the Twentieth Century: the Works of 61 Artists. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. 1995.	38-40	1995
Highwater, Jamake. ~The Sweet Grass Lives on, Fifty Contemporary North American Indian Artists. New York, New York: Lippincott & Crowell Publishers. 1980.	89-91	1980
Highwater, Jamake. Song from the Earth: American Indian Painting. Boston, Massachusetts: New York Graphic Society. 1976.	114, 123-124, 146, 162, 173-175, 192-193	1976	Includes bibliographical references and index.
King, Jeanne Snodgrass (guest curator). Drawn from Memory: the James T. Bialac Painting Collection of Native American Art. Phoenix, Arizona: Heard Museum. 1996.	12	1996	Catalog of an exhibition held at the Heard Museum, Phoenix, Arizona, February 24, 1996-September 3, 1996.
Korte, Tim. "Renowned Navajo Artist R.C. Gorman, 74, Dies in New Mexico". Arizona Republic, November 4, 2005. 2005.	B-11	2005	Newspaper article
Leal, Ronald. "R.C. Gorman: the Two Worlds of a Navajo Artist". Mankind, vol. 2, no. 9 (September 1970). 1970.	48-57	1970	Includes black and white portrait photograph by Dick Spas of R.C. Gorman standing and painting. Numerous examples of his work are also included.
Lester, Patrick D. ~The Biographical Directory of Native American Painters. Tulsa, Oklahoma: SIR Publications. 1995.	204-205	1995	Includes tribal index and bibliographical references.
Ligidakis, Nikos. The Power of the Brush: the Evolution of R.C. Gorman. Scottsdale, Arizona: Inkwell Books. 2017.		2017
Love, Marian F. "R.C. Gorman, Artist". Santa Fean Magazine, vol. 8, no. 7 (August 1980). 1980.	10-13	1980
Marshall, Ann E. "Inviting Change: the Heard Museum Invitationals' Context for Cannon". In: Marshall, Ann E. and Diana F. Pardue (editors). Of God and Mortal Men: T.C. Cannon. Santa Fe, New Mexico: Museum of New Mexico Press in association with the Heard Museum, Phoenix, Arizona. 2017.	89	2017
Matuz, Roger (editor). ~St. James Guide to Native North American Artists. Detroit, Michigan: St. James Press. 1997.	192-194	1997
Mikkelsen, Leatrice (editor). "Museum of Indian Arts to Present R. C. Gorman". Indian Historian, vol. 1, no. 4 (fall 1968). 1968.	23	1968	Information on R.C. Gorman and his one-man exhibit of paintings at the Museum of Indian Arts, San Franciso, California, November 2-19, 1968. Appears in the column "The Arts" edited by Leatrice Mikkelsen in the journal issue.
Navajo Gallery. "[Advertisement] Navajo Gallery, Taos, R.C. Gorman". Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market Official Guide, 2004. 2004.	43	2004	Includes full-page color reproduction of R.C. Gorman's paper cast in an edition of 75 entitled "Duet".
Navajo Gallery. "[Advertisement] Navajo Gallery, Taos, R.C. Gorman". Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market Official Guide, 2003. 2003.	7	2003	Includes color reproduction of R.C. Gorman lithograph "Reverie".
Sasse, Julie. Common Ground: Contemporary Native American Art from the Permanent Collection and Private Collections. Tucson, Arizona: Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block. 2002.	2-3	2002	Gallery guide of an exhibition
Sasse, Julie. Southwest Rising: Contemporary Art and the Legacy of Elaine Horwitch. Scottsdale, Arizona: Cattle Track Press. 2020.	159-162, 185-186, 192+	2020	Consult index term "Gorman, Rudolph Carl (R. C.)" on page 546 for additional pages containing information about R. C. Gorman. \| Co-published by the Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson, Arizona. Includes bibliographical references and index.
Silberman, Arthur. 100 Years of Native American Painting, March 5-April 16, 1978, the Oklahoma Museum of Art, Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Oklahoma Museum of Art. 1978.	49	1978	Introduction by Jamake Highwater.
Snodgrass, Jeanne O. (compiler). ~American Indian Painters: a Biographical Directory. New York, New York: Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation. 1968.	66-67	1968	Issued as vol. 21, part 1 in the series, Contributions from the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation
Tanner, Clara Lee. ~Southwest Indian Painting: a Changing Art. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona Press. 1973.	82, 362, 364, 371-375, 429	1973	Second edition. Includes indexed list of illustrations by artist, bibliographical references, and general index.
Wagner, Rory with text by Michael Wigley. Rory Wagner, Paintings and Drawings, March 27, 1982, Quail Hollow Galleries, Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Quail Hollow Galleries. 1982.	vii, 30-31	1982	Foreword by R.C. Gorman, with an acrylic 1978 portrait of R.C. Gorman by Rory Wagner. \| Catalog of an exhibition.
WalkingStick, Kay and Ann E. Marshall. So Fine! Masterworks of Fine Art from the Heard Museum. Phoenix, Arizona: Heard Museum. 2001.	9	2001	Catalog of an exhibition
Wikipedia contributors. "R.C. Gorman". In: Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia (host URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/) at source URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._C._Gorman. 2005 .		2005	Current entry on R.C. Gorman in Wikipedia (viewed November 26, 2018)	View
Winsted, Manya. "Inside R.C. Gorman's World". Santa Fean, vol. 26, no. 7 (August 1998). 1998.	64-70	1998

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