Daniel Walbidi

Daniel Walbidi was born in 1982 in the remote Kimberley community of Bidyadanga, located approximately 250 kilometres south of Broome in Western Australia. Raised within a strong cultural environment, he grew up listening to the songs, stories and histories of his elders. Encouraged by his high school art teacher, Walbidi revealed an early aptitude for translating these narratives into visual form.

Walbidi has played a pivotal role in the development of the contemporary painting movement that emerged from Bidyadanga. In 1999 he approached Broome gallerist Emily Rohr with the idea of forming a painting group, recognising both his own desire to paint and the importance of creating a platform for senior community members whose memories and cultural knowledge connected deeply to their desert homelands.

Many of these elders were Yulparija people, whose lives had been dramatically reshaped during the mid-twentieth century. Severe drought, alongside the expansion of mining and pastoral activity across the Western Desert, forced many families to move toward the coast during the 1960s. They eventually settled at La Grange Mission, now Bidyadanga, alongside the Karajarri, the traditional saltwater custodians of the region. In 2002, the successful Karajarri native title determination further strengthened the cultural identity of the community and brought renewed focus to the preservation and expression of traditional knowledge.

Within this context Walbidi emerged as a leading figure in the development of Bidyadanga painting. Under his guidance the distinctive Yulparija way of seeing Country found a new visual language. Early exhibitions in Melbourne and Sydney sold out, and senior artists in the community began referring to him affectionately as “young boss.”

Around this time Walbidi travelled with filmmaker David Batty and other community members to revisit their ancestral desert lands — a journey documented in the film Desert Heart (Rebel Films, 2008). The experience had a profound influence on his work. His paintings, which had previously been based largely on remembered stories and inherited knowledge, became more expansive and confident following this direct reconnection with Country.

Walbidi’s paintings are characterised by meticulously detailed and often highly abstracted topographies. His compositions evoke both desert and coastal environments, reflecting the layered cultural geography of Bidyadanga. Warm desert ochres frequently sit at the centre of his compositions, while vibrant blues and greens reference the nearby ocean and estuarine systems. Through these contrasting palettes he maps journeys, water sources and significant cultural sites.

While deeply grounded in Yulparija cultural knowledge, Walbidi’s practice also engages with contemporary artistic language. Exposure to international art during travel, including time spent in London, reinforced his interest in developing new ways of representing Country. His work continues to bridge traditional cultural knowledge with evolving contemporary forms of expression.

Today Daniel Walbidi is recognised as one of the key figures in the Bidyadanga painting movement. His work is held in major public and private collections and has been widely exhibited throughout Australia and internationally.

2014 - winner of the Telstra General Painting Award, Telstra NATSIAA, Museum and Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin.

2024 - Yurlupirti: Forever Without End (Eternal), D’Lan Contemporary, New York, USA

2017 - Daniel Walbidi, Short St Gallery, Broome, WA

2015 - Wirnpa, Short St Gallery, Broome, WA

2009 - Daniel Walbidi, 10 years of Painting, Short St Gallery, Broome, WA

2007 - Winpa, Short St Gallery @ Mary Place, Paddington, Sydney, NSW

2006 - Daniel Walbidi, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne, VIC

2025 - Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, ACT, Australia
2025 - Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, NT, Australia – Finalists’ Exhibition
2023 - Voir L’Invisible, Musée d’Angoulême, Angoulême, France
2023 - Curated by Conor O’Shea, Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney, NSW, Australia
2022 - Monument of Remembrance: Aboriginal Art from Australia, Belgium Chocolate Village Museum, Brussels, Belgium
2022 - Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia, Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia; National Gallery of Singapore, Singapore
2019 - Desert River Sea: Portraits of the Kimberley, Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
2019 - From the Desert to the Sea: A Journey with the Yulparitja, Aboriginal Signature Estrangin Gallery, Brussels, Belgium
2018 - Conversations with Matthew Johnson, Short St Gallery, Broome, WA, Australia
2018 - Masterpiece 2018, Aboriginal Signature Estrangin Gallery, Brussels, Belgium
2018 - Le Pley and Hassall Collections, Government House, Perth, WA, Australia
2018 - Hedland Art Award, Courthouse Gallery, Port Hedland, WA, Australia
2018 - Wonga (Conversation), Short St Gallery, Broome, WA, Australia
2018 - Antheaum Club Award, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
2018 - Sydney Contemporary Art Fair, Sydney, NSW, Australia
2017 - Spiritual Essence of the Earth, Aboriginal Signature Gallery, Brussels, Belgium
2017 - Annual Catalogue of Important Aboriginal Art, William Mora Galleries / D’Lan International Art, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
2017 - Retrospective Mode Muntu, La Cité Miroir, Liège, Belgium
2016 - Cooee Art at Australian Galleries, Australian Galleries, Sydney, NSW, Australia
2016 - Yulparija Calling, Short St Gallery, Broome, WA, Australia
2016 - Parcours des Mondes, Estrangin Fine Art, Paris, France
2015 - New Frontiers, Linden Gallery, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
2014 - National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, NT, Australia
2014 - Saltwater Soul Desert Heart, Short St Gallery, Broome, WA, Australia
2014 - Country to Coast: Colours of the Kimberley, Aboriginal Art Museum Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
2014 - Dreamings: L’Arte Aborigena Australiana incontra De Chirico, Museo Carlo Bilotti, Rome, Italy
2013 - Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia – Finalists’ Exhibition
2013 - Spring in the Desert, Short St Gallery, Broome, WA, Australia
2012 - National Indigenous Art Triennial: unDisclosed, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, ACT, Australia
2012 - Round and Round that Rockhole, Short St Gallery, Broome, WA, Australia
2012 - Heart and Soul: The Laverty Collection, Aboriginal Art Museum Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
2011 - Northern Impressions: A Celebration of Contemporary Painting, Nyinkka Nyunyu Cultural Centre, Tennant Creek, NT, Australia (touring exhibition)
2011 - Shalom Gamarada Ngiyani Yana Art Fair, Sydney, NSW, Australia
2011 - Pearls, Paint and Ilma, Aratong Galleries, Australian High Commission, Singapore
2011 - Kirriwirri, Aboriginal and Pacific Art Gallery, Sydney, NSW, Australia
2011 - Bidyadanga Recent Paintings, Chapman Gallery, Canberra, ACT, Australia
2010 - Bidyadanga Artists, Harvey Arts Projects, Sun Valley, ID, USA
2010 - Grand Nord Grand Sud: Artistes Inuit et Aborigènes, Daoulas Museum, Brittany, France
2010 - Contemporary Aboriginal Painting from Australia, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY, USA
2010 - Melbourne Art Fair, Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
2009 - Western Australian Indigenous Art Awards, Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
2009 - Shalom Gamarada Aboriginal Art Exhibition, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
2009 - Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, NT, Australia
2009 - From Desert to Saltwater Country, ReDot Gallery, Singapore
2008 - Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, NT, Australia
2008 - Xstrata Emerging Indigenous Art Award, Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
2008 - From Desert to Saltwater, Booker-Lowe Gallery, Houston, TX, USA
2008 - Bidyadanga Artists 2008, AP Bond Art Dealer, Adelaide, SA, Australia
2008 - Paintings from Remote Communities: Indigenous Australian Art from the Laverty Collection, Newcastle Regional Gallery, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
2007 - Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, NT, Australia
2007 - Yulparija Artists: New Works on Board, Short St Gallery, Broome, WA, Australia
2007 - Winpa, RAFT Artspace, Darwin, NT, Australia
2007 - Desert Heart, Nevill Keating Gallery, London, UK
2007 - From the Bungalow I: Yulparija Artists, Johnston Gallery, Perth, WA, Australia
2006 - Bidyadanga Men, Art House Gallery, Sydney, NSW, Australia
2006 - Outback Art Prize, Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery, Broken Hill, NSW, Australia
2005 - Return of Our Land, Gallery Gondwana, Alice Springs, NT, Australia
2005 - Recent Works from Kirriwirri, Art House Gallery, Sydney, NSW, Australia
2005 - Big Country, Gallery Gondwana, Alice Springs, NT, Australia
2005 - Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, NT, Australia
2004 - New Works by Bidyadanga Artists, RAFT Artspace, Darwin, NT, Australia
2004 - Desert to Saltwater, Short St Gallery at Mary Place Gallery, Sydney, NSW, Australia
2004 - Desert Ocean, Short St Gallery at Kidogo Gallery, Fremantle, WA, Australia
2004 - Bidyadanga Artists, William Mora Gallery, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
2004 - Bidyadanga Artists, Art House Gallery, Sydney, NSW, Australia
2003 - Manjyiljara, Short St Gallery, Broome, WA, Australia
2001 - Salon Show, Elizabeth Bay, Sydney, NSW, Australia
2001 - From Here to There, Short St Gallery, Broome, WA, Australia
2000 - Stompen Ground Exhibition, Goolari Media, Broome, WA, Australia
2000 - Remote Schools Exhibition, Short St Gallery, Broome, WA, Australia
2000 - NAIDOC Week Exhibition, Short St Gallery, Broome, WA, Australia
1999 - Remote Schools Exhibition, Matsos, Broome, WA, Australia

Artbank, Sydney, NSW
Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth, WA
Baillieu-Myer Collection, Melbourne, VIC
Brocard–Estrangin Collection, Belgium
Corrigan Collection, Melbourne, VIC
Felton Collection, Melbourne, VIC
Kingston Collection, United Kingdom
Laverty Collection, Sydney, NSW
Lepley Collection, Perth, WA
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, ACT
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, VIC
Newcastle Art Gallery, Newcastle, NSW
Parliament House Art Collection, Canberra, ACT
Sam Barry Collection, Australia
University of Newcastle Art Collection, Newcastle, NSW
Wesfarmers Collection, Perth, WA

Daniel Walbidi is widely recognised as one of the most influential figures behind the emergence of the Bidyadanga painting movement in Western Australia’s northern coastal region. Born in 1982, he was just seventeen when he first approached Broome gallerist Emily Rohr with the idea of establishing a painting group that would provide an outlet for the cultural knowledge held by senior members of his community.

Many of these elders, including Weaver Jack, Jan Billycan and Alma Webou, were Yulparija artists whose lives had been shaped by displacement from their desert homelands. Severe drought and expanding mining and pastoral activity during the mid-twentieth century forced many Yulparija families to move toward the coast, eventually settling at La Grange Mission (now Bidyadanga) alongside the Karajarri people. Through painting, these artists were able to reconnect with and express their desert Country, while Walbidi’s leadership helped give the movement structure and momentum.

Walbidi’s work quickly attracted strong interest from collectors and curators. His paintings are characterised by intricate and highly abstracted cartographies of Country, often combining warm desert ochres with the vibrant blues and greens associated with the coastal environment surrounding Bidyadanga.

His secondary market debut came relatively late, with the first works appearing at auction in 2010, when six works were offered and all sold. Momentum continued the following year with two important results: Kirriwirri realised $51,240 at the Mossgreen sale of the Estate of Anne Lewis AO, while Winpa (2007) achieved $41,800 at Sotheby’s Important Aboriginal and Oceanic Art sale.

As more works entered the secondary market during the following years, Walbidi’s reputation continued to strengthen. A new auction record was set in 2016 when Kirriwirri (2013) sold for $79,300 at Deutscher and Hackett, confirming the growing confidence collectors had in the artist’s work.

Demand for Walbidi’s paintings has long exceeded supply. From the early years of his career, Emily Rohr maintained a substantial waiting list for his works, reflecting the strong interest from collectors in both Australia and internationally. While the gradual appearance of paintings on the secondary market has broadened access to his work, the market for significant examples remains highly competitive.

Today Daniel Walbidi is regarded as one of the leading contemporary artists to emerge from the Kimberley region. His paintings, distinguished by their complex topographies and powerful sense of place, continue to attract strong attention from collectors and institutions. As the Bidyadanga movement gains increasing recognition within the broader history of contemporary Aboriginal art, Walbidi’s role as one of its central figures is becoming ever more firmly established.