Richard Gandhuwuy is a traditional owner of Galiwin’ku, on Elcho Island in Northeast Arnhem Land. He is a senior Liyaguwumirr clan leader and an artist.
Gandhuwuy tells creation and dreaming stories through a range of mediums including bark painting, carving, painting on canvas, paper and on bodies, and screen printing. He is committed to creating artworks which tell stories from traditional ceremony, song and dance, and the patterns of alliances between different Dhuwa moiety clans. He was taught to paint traditional stories by his father, Djunmal, when he was around 18 years of age.
He was born at Millingimbi Community during World War II and now resides at Dhambala Homeland on Elcho Island, where he lives with wives, Nancy Gudaltji and Margaret Dhorrpuy. Gandhuwuy has 15 children and 24 grandchildren.
His past employment includes working as a carpenter (helping to rebuild Darwin after Cyclone Tracy), fisherman, mechanic, painter, and Town Clerk of Galiwin’ku Community Inc.
