Gorman (1931-2005), R.C.
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R.C. (Rudolph Charles) Gorman was born in 1931 at the edge of the Canyon de Chelly, legendary home of the Anasazi and now home to the Navajo. He spent his early years at the side of his mother, grandmother and aunt, who herded sheep at Black Mountain, steeped in the natural beauty and rich culture of his native heritage.
He is best known for his timeless, dignified portraits of full-bodied Indian women. He attributes his admiration of the female form to the strong women who raised him and has commented that he chooses models with full bodies ". . . I like the ample figure because it fills space softly." Due to his economy of line R.C. Gorman is sometimes called `The Picasso of Indian Artists'.
"The colors of the sand, the rock, the sky; the shapes of hands, feet, backs; my Navajo grandmother's stories; the solitude of the Southwestern deserts and the stimulation of large cities such as San Francisco and Mexico City: all have influenced and shown up in my work over the years."
His work is owned in countless private collections, and is represented in many major museums including the Smithsonian, the Museum of New Mexico, San Diego Museum of Art, and the Denver Art Museum, among many others.
