The name of the museum is in honor of Carl Nelson Gorman, the Navajo code talker, artist, and a former faculty member at UC Davis.

[4] Artists in the museum collection include Frank LaPena, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Melanie Yazzie, Rick Bartow, Benjamin Haldane, James Schoppert, Dana Claxton, Frank Tuttle, Garnet Pavatea, and many others.

Hulleah J. Tsinhnahjinnie presently serves as director of the museum, which started in 2004.

[5][6] George Longfish served as the museum founding director and curator, from 1974 to 1996.

[4][10] In September 2023, the building is scheduled to reopened at 181 Old Davis Road.