Claude Waanamal Mowaljarlai

Claude was born and raised in Derby WA. He learned to paint watching his father record culture through art.

Claude attended Art College in Perth and has painted for most of his life.

He follows a long line of artists who are keeping their culture alive through art. His paintings display cultural beliefs, incorporating various incarnations of Wandjina. These include, Wandjina Rainmaker, Rimijmurra is a powerful Wandjina  from the Wanumbul country. Rimijmurra’s exploits as a thief are part of his identity. He used to take from the other Wandjinas. Yagjagbula and Jabaringi – the Lightning Brothers. Claude has been influenced throughout his life,by his father, David Mowaljarlai,  a senior traditional lawman of the Ngarinyin people in the West Kimberley, Western Australia.