Rudolph Carl Gorman (July 26, 1931 – November 3, 2005) was born in Chinle, Arizona and was a Native American artist of the Navajo Nation. He was raised in a traditional Navajo hogan and began drawing at a very early age. He was raised by his grandmother, who passed on the legends and genealogy of the Navajos to him as well as kindling his desire to become an artist.

Gorman credited Jenny Lind, a teacher at his school, to strive for and become an artist full time.[5] After graduating, he served in the United States Navy before entering Northern Arizona University, majoring in literature and minoring in art.

In 1958, Gorman received a scholarship from the Navajo Tribal Council to study art abroad at the Mexico City College. While there, he was exposed to the works of Diego Rivera, David Siqueiros, and Rufino Tamayo which had a profound influence on him and affected his artistic style for the rest of his career. He was also heavily influenced by Jose Sanchez, a master printer who taught him the technique of stone lithography. He would use this method throughout his life to create original multiple images of his creations, often working directly on the stones from which the lithographs were printed.

He later studied fine art at San Francisco State University and, in 1968, Gorman moved from California to New Mexico and opening the Navajo Gallery in Taos.

In 1973, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City included Gorman's artwork in the exhibit “Masterworks of the American Indian." He was the only living artist to be represented in the show as well as having one of his pieces featured on the cover of the exhibition catalog.

Gorman died at age 74 on November 3, 2005. The New Mexico governor ordered flags flown at half-staff in his honor.