Paddy Bedford

Paddy Nyunkuny Bedford (circa 1920/1922 – 14 July 2007), aka Goowoomji, was a contemporary Aboriginal Australian painter and printmaker from Warmun in the Kimberley in Western Australia. He was one of eight Australian artists selected for an architectural commission for the roof and ceilings of the Musée du quai Branly in Paris, France.

Early life and education Paddy Nyunkuny Bedford was born in the East Kimberley around 1920 or 1922 at a property which gave him his surname – Bedford Downs Station. The station's owner Paddy Quilty was the source of Bedford's given name, but Bedford's judgement of Quilty was at best forgiving, and could be harsh. Quilty was reputed to have been involved in a massacre of Indigenous people in the region before Bedford's birth, and Bedford's response to an invitation to visit Quilty's grave was "Why should I go see that old fucking bastard?". In Bedford, he was heavily involved in traditional Gija law and ceremony, and became a senior lawman.

Life for Bedford, like his parents, was hard and shaped by the harsh racial politics of early 20th century Australia. Bedford left Bedford Downs in the early 1970's as a result of the 1969 Pastoral Award legislation that resulted in the eviction of many Aboriginal workers. His parents survived but were displaced by incidents that involved the killing of Indigenous people. Many Gija people have recorded stories and painted as a means to explain massacres that occurred in their country.

Bedford's painting is loosely representational of landscape, and was influenced by the work of Rover Thomas. Although strongly influenced by traditional techniques and iconography from The Dreaming, it also addresses black-white relationships and historical events in his country. He painted a series illustrating the poisoning murders of Gija men on Bedford Downs in the 1910s. Following the death of Bedford, the remaining owners decided to wind up the business and sell its assets.

Some notable works include Joowarringayin-Devil Dreaming, Thoowoonggonarrin, Mt King - Emu Dreaming, Lightning Creek, and Cockatoo - Jawoorraban.

Death and legacy Bedford died on 14 July 2007.

His art remains among Australia's most collectible, and has decorated aircraft as part of Qantas' Indigenous Flying Art series.

Collections and exhibitions Bedford was one of eight Australian artists selected for an architectural commission for the Musée du quai Branly, Paris, which opened in 2006. Their work adorns the roof and ceilings of one of its buildings.

In addition to a number of solo exhibitions, his work was included in major group exhibitions such as Blood on the spinifex at the Ian Potter Museum of Art (2002–2003) and True Stories at the Art Gallery of New South Wales (2003).

His work is represented in numerous major Australian and international collections, including the National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Art Gallery of Western Australia and the Musée du quai Branly.