© National Portrait Gallery 2025
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196
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, 1990
Jarinyanu David Downs
Portrait, natural earth pigments and synthetic polymer paint on linen
Purchased 2017
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, 2003
Jim Anderson
Portrait, inkjet print on canvas
Gift of Patrick Corrigan AM 2013. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
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
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
Memories
General content
The second row of paintings recall stories relating to specific sites, experiences and activities.
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), 1903
Sir Leslie Ward, Vincent Brooks, Day & Son, Vanity Fair Magazine
Portrait, chromolithograph on paper
Purchased 2015
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 (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
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
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
Biography
Queenie McKenzie (c. 1930–1998) was a prominent Gija artist in the East Kimberley painting movement.
1 portrait in the collection
Storytelling
General content
The fourth row of paintings interweave Ngarranggarni, memories, relationships and Country.