Skip to main content
Menu

The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Jarinyanu Dancing at Broome Festival

Jarinyanu David Downs

Biography

Jarinyanu David Downs (c. 1925–1995), Wangkajunga/Walmajarri painter, printmaker and preacher, lived a traditional life in the Great Sandy Desert of West Australia until he was a young man.

2 portraits in the collection

Jarinyanu Dancing at Broome Festival
Jarinyanu Dancing at Broome Festival
Jarinyanu Dancing at Broome Festival

Jarinyanu Dancing at Broome Festival, 1990

Jarinyanu David Downs
Portrait, natural earth pigments and synthetic polymer paint on linen

Purchased 2017

Jarinyanu David Downs
Jarinyanu David Downs
Jarinyanu David Downs

Jarinyanu David Downs, 1986

Martin van der Wal
Portrait, inkjet print on rag paper

Purchased 2005

Shirley Purdie

Contributing artists

Born: 1947, Gilbun – Mabel Downs Station, WA
Works: Warmun, WA

Paddy Bedford
Paddy Bedford
Paddy Bedford

Paddy Bedford, 2003

Jim Anderson
Portrait, inkjet print on canvas

Gift of Patrick Corrigan AM 2013. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Paddy Bedford

Paddy Nyunkuny Bedford

Biography

Paddy Nyunkuny Bedford (1920/1924–2007), also known as Goowoomji or Guwumji, artist and Gija elder, was born on Bedford Downs Station, near Warmun in Western Australia.

1 portrait in the collection

Dr Ludwig Leichhardt

Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Leichhardt

Biography

Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Leichhardt (1813-c. 1848) went to school and university in Germany but the range of his interests was such that he never actually graduated (he was later called Dr Leichhardt in recognition of his broad scholarship).

1 portrait in the collection

Goollabal (Rainbow Serpent), 2018 by Shirley Purdie

Memories

General content

The second row of paintings recall stories relating to specific sites, experiences and activities.

Western Australia (Sir Frederick Bedford)

Sir Frederick George Denham Bedford GCB GCVO

Biography

Sir Frederick George Denham Bedford GCB GCVO (1838–1913) was governor of Western Australia from 1903 to 1909.

1 portrait in the collection

Western Australia (Sir Frederick Bedford)
Western Australia (Sir Frederick Bedford)
Western Australia (Sir Frederick Bedford)

Western Australia (Sir Frederick Bedford), 1903

Sir Leslie Ward, Vincent Brooks, Day & Son, Vanity Fair Magazine
Portrait, chromolithograph on paper

Purchased 2015

Mabel Forrest

Mabel Forrest

Biography

Mabel Forrest (née Mills, 1872–1935), writer, was born near Yandilla on the Darling Downs and grew up on various cattle stations in the district, publishing her first poem at age ten.

1 portrait in the collection

Paddy Jaminji

Paddy Jaminji (Jampin)

Biography

Paddy Jaminji (Jampin) (1912-1996), Kija visual artist, spent much of his life in and around his country near Bedford Downs station in WA.

1 portrait in the collection

Paddy Jaminji

Sir Henry Barkly

Portrait story

An interview with former National Portrait Gallery Director, Andrew Sayers, who describes the portrait of Sir Henry Barkly by Thomas Clark.

Rover Thomas

Rover Thomas

Biography

Rover Thomas (1926-1998), Kukatja-Wangkajunga artist, was born in the Great Sandy Desert of Western Australia and worked as a stockman and fencer before losing his employment upon the introduction of equal pay for indigenous workers in 1975.

1 portrait in the collection

Queenie McKenzie Nakara

Queenie McKenzie Nakara

Biography

Queenie McKenzie (c. 1930–1998) was a prominent Gija artist in the East Kimberley painting movement.

1 portrait in the collection

Thilin-Thilin Gooragall Nyajaringil Garnkiny-nu (white gum tree, mother for the moon), 2018 by Shirley Purdie

Storytelling

General content

The fourth row of paintings interweave Ngarranggarni, memories, relationships and Country.

© National Portrait Gallery 2026
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia

Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency