Proud Lady

Proud Lady by R.C. Gorman, 2005, a striking lithograph of a Navajo woman seated with head held high in an attitude of dignified strength. She wears a simple white garment and a spectacular turquoise beaded necklace that draws the eye and speaks to cultural identity and adornment. Her gaze is directed upward, conveying confidence and vision. The composition uses a simplified heart-shaped form to suggest the seated pose, creating an abstracted, modern sensibility while honoring figuration. The warm flesh tones and cool turquoise create visual vitality. A powerful recent work for collectors of Gorman’s later practices and those valuing representations of female power, indigenous pride, and contemporary Southwest fine art.