Wasp Man, 2025

synthetic polymer paint on canvas

149.5 x 91 cm

Enquire for price

Provenance: Short Street Gallery, Broome, WA
Artwork story: Born in 1982 in the remote Western Australian settlement of Bidyadanga, Daniel Walbidi grew up immersed in the songs, stories and cultural teachings of his Elders. Encouraged by a teacher at high school, his natural talent for translating these traditions into visual form soon became clear. He would go on to play a pivotal role in shaping a new art movement that not only strengthened cultural expression but also became an important source of income for his community and attracted growing attention in the wider art world. In 1999, Walbidi approached Broome gallery owner Emily Rohr with the idea of forming a painting group. He recognised that many of his Elders held powerful memories of life in the desert, before environmental hardship and expanding mining and pastoral development in the 1960s forced the Yulparija people to leave their homelands and move to Bidyadanga, where they settled alongside the Karajarri people. Following a successful land claim in 2002, a renewed focus on identity and Country took hold, and under Walbidi’s leadership the Yulparija perspective began to emerge more strongly through art. Rapid success followed, with sold-out exhibitions in major cities and strong respect for Walbidi’s guidance, even among much older artists. A later journey back to ancestral desert lands proved deeply transformative. This reconnection shifted his work, bringing greater confidence and fluidity to the way he depicted Country. His paintings balance warm desert ochres with vibrant blues and greens inspired by the coast, creating works that feel both ancient and alive. While grounded in cultural continuity, Walbidi also draws inspiration from contemporary art and global experiences, using both tradition and modern influence to present an evolving vision of the land and his identity.

Stockroom

Click to enlarge

Daniel Walbidi

b. 1983

Region: Western Desert
Community: Bidyadanga (La Grange)
Language group: Yulparitja; Mangala

Wasp Man, 2025

synthetic polymer paint on canvas

149.5 x 91 cm

Enquire for price

Provenance: Short Street Gallery, Broome, WA
Artwork story: Born in 1982 in the remote Western Australian settlement of Bidyadanga, Daniel Walbidi grew up immersed in the songs, stories and cultural teachings of his Elders. Encouraged by a teacher at high school, his natural talent for translating these traditions into visual form soon became clear. He would go on to play a pivotal role in shaping a new art movement that not only strengthened cultural expression but also became an important source of income for his community and attracted growing attention in the wider art world. In 1999, Walbidi approached Broome gallery owner Emily Rohr with the idea of forming a painting group. He recognised that many of his Elders held powerful memories of life in the desert, before environmental hardship and expanding mining and pastoral development in the 1960s forced the Yulparija people to leave their homelands and move to Bidyadanga, where they settled alongside the Karajarri people. Following a successful land claim in 2002, a renewed focus on identity and Country took hold, and under Walbidi’s leadership the Yulparija perspective began to emerge more strongly through art. Rapid success followed, with sold-out exhibitions in major cities and strong respect for Walbidi’s guidance, even among much older artists. A later journey back to ancestral desert lands proved deeply transformative. This reconnection shifted his work, bringing greater confidence and fluidity to the way he depicted Country. His paintings balance warm desert ochres with vibrant blues and greens inspired by the coast, creating works that feel both ancient and alive. While grounded in cultural continuity, Walbidi also draws inspiration from contemporary art and global experiences, using both tradition and modern influence to present an evolving vision of the land and his identity.