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Carlene is a senior artist and senior woman in the Ernabella community. At various times she has sat on the Board of the Ernabella Art Centre and was
the Chair for several years. Carlene was born Carlene De Rose, in Finke in 1950. She met her husband, Kunmanara (Kawaki) Thompson OAM, at De Rose Hill, and they were married there. Her late husband was a highly regarded senior Pitjantjatjara man who was a major figure in the 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. In 2009 Carlene began to concentrate on ceramics. Her work is contemporary while being based on Country and the creation being of her family’s country, the kalaya (emu).
Carlene’s art has been shown in many exhibitions both nationally and internationally. It has also been acquired for the Goulburn Regional Art Gallery Collection and the Queensland Art Gallery Collection. Carlene has been a finalist in the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards three times.