Petrina Bedford Dale / Djalala Wandjina (PB63)

Petrina Bedford Dale was born in Derby, WA in 1998 and is a third generation West Kimberley artist. Both her grandfathers – Jack Dale Mengenen (maternal) and Paddy Bedford (paternal) were celebrated Indigenous Kimberley artists.

Petrina’s mother, Edna Dale, is a senior artist and Petrina and her mother often paint side by side. Petrina was only 12 when her first artworks were included in an exhibition at Japingka Gallery in Perth alongside the works of her mother and grandfather. An incredible achievement for such a young artist.

Petrina is the oldest of eight children to her parents Edna and Lance – seven girls and a boy. Petrina is Gija skin on her father’s side and Ngarinyin on her mother’s side. She lives with her family at Imintji Community, 230km east of Derby along the Gibb River Road, where her mother is Chairperson.

Petrina was extremely close to her late grandfather Jack Dale who encouraged her to paint from a young age. Painting allowed Jack to pass on the stories of his country which relate to the Wandjina rock art of the West Kimberley.

Now in her twenties, Petrina is an established artist in her own right with an incredible talent and, we believe, an amazing career in front of her. Most definitely an artist to watch out for in the future.

Group Exhibitions

• 2024 Mowanjum Wandjinas, Art Mob, TAS
• 2019 Dungog Contemporary, NSW
• 2019 Moonie’s Art Studio/Gallery, Broome, WA
• 2017 Sydney Opera House Homeground Markets, Sydney, NSW
• 2016 Revealed, Fremantle Art Centre, Perth, WA
• 2016 Paintings & prints – Reveal, Thelma Johns, Perth, WA
• 2006 Jack Dale – A Kimberley History

Bibliography

• 2015 ‘Mowanjum Daytrip,’ Philippa Jahn, Desert River Sea, Art Gallery of Western Australia

This visually striking work by Petrina Bedford Dale depicts a group of Wandjina and the Djalala marking stones associated with them. The piece showcases Petrina’s contemporary approach while staying grounded in traditional knowledge and ancestral storytelling from her Ngarinyin heritage.

The Wandjinas—each with distinctive halo-like head markings and body designs—are central ancestral figures from the Kimberley region, responsible for creating the land, people, and law. In this work, Petrina has used a wide variety of markings across the Wandjina figures: dotted rain patterns, ceremonial stripes, wavy water lines, and clusters of concentric circles. These design elements reflect their diverse roles and the sacred sites they are connected to across Country.

Beneath the Wandjinas are the Djalala — circular marking stones that signify the presence of these spirits on Country. These stones are placed at important sites to preserve ceremonial knowledge and ensure the continuation of cultural law. In the painting, the Djalala are rendered in bold black, white and red forms, grounding the spirits above and symbolising their deep spiritual connection to the land.

Petrina is the granddaughter of the late Jack Dale Mengenen, a highly respected Ngarinyin elder. The stories and teachings passed to her through her mother, Edna Dale, are brought to life in her art. In this work, Petrina not only honours the ancestral spirits but also expresses her own creative voice — ensuring the stories remain strong for future generations.