Carlene Thompson is a senior woman and leading artist in the Ernabella community. At various times she has sat on the Board of Ernabella Arts and was the Chair for several years. She is currently a Board member of Ku Arts. Carlene was born in Finke in 1950. Her late husband, Kunmanara (Kawaki) Thompson OAM, was a highly regarded senior Pitjantjatjara man who was a major figure in the APY Land Rights Movement. Carlene and her husband had one son and five daughters, three of whom also work at the art centre. Carlene started painting at the art centre in 2007 and quickly developed a very individual style, and in 2009 she began to concentrate on ceramics. Her work is contemporary while being based on Country. She often tells the story in her artworks of the creation being of her family’s country, the kalaya (emu).
