The C.N. Gorman Museum is a portal for Indigenous and non-Indigenous visionaries. It is a space where perceptions of contemporary Native American, Indigenous, and First Nations art are intellectually recalibrated. Exhibiting artists challenge critical issues of borders, stereotypes, and identity by speaking eloquently through their artistic medium of choice.

Founded in 1973 by the Department of Native American Studies, the C.N. Gorman Museum is named in honor of retired faculty member, Carl Nelson Gorman, Navajo artist, WWII code-talker, cultural historian, and advocate for Native peoples. It is in his honor that we encourage an understanding of Indigenous protocol, territories and knowledge.

The C.N. Gorman Museum is committed to the creative expressions of Native American artists, and artists of diverse cultures and histories. Changing exhibits feature contemporary artwork in a wide range of media, reflecting the canon in which Indigenous artists are working today. The Museum?s reputation of artistic excellence is proven by its company of exhibiting artists over the last 33 years, including some of the most established Native American artists, and strives to introduce the next generation of emerging Indigenous artists.

PERMANENT ART COLLECTIONS: The museum's collections have grown alonside the museum since its establishment in 1973 to include artworks from throughout North America and globally. The Native American and First Nations collections emphasize the museum?s commitment to contemporary artwork in a wide range of media reflecting the canon in which Indigenous artists are working today.

The collection also reflects museum collaboration and communications with artists globally to include contemporary artworks from Aetearoa (New Zealand), Australia, Samoa, Bali, Peru, Central America and Spain.

Artworks are frequently featured in C.N. Gorman Museum exhibitions and in loans to other institutions, and play an important role in teaching and research.

The C.N. Gorman Museum is committed to the creative expressions of Native American artists, and artists of diverse cultures and histories. Changing exhibits feature contemporary artwork in a wide range of media, reflecting the canon in which Indigenous artists are working today. Founded in 1973 by the Department of Native American Studies, the museum is named in honor of retired faculty member, Carl Nelson Gorman, Navajo artist, WWII code-talker, cultural historian, and advocate for Native peoples.