Richard Bedwash (originally Richard Petawayash) was an Ojibwe Canadian artist born in 1936 on a reservation near Hillsport, Ontario, Canada. Bedwash began painting in 1967 and apprenticed with Norval Morrisseau. His work featured images that represent the stories and legends of the Ojibway heritage often depicting animals and their symbolic and spiritual meaning to his people.

Bedwashe’s style is known as Woodland Spirit Art and his work belongs to the Woodland School of painting, which was pioneered by Morrisseau. During his adult life, Richard was fortunate to spend one entire year painting with Morrisseau.

Richard passed away in 2007.