Carol Thompson is a Wangkatja, Mirning Woman born in the Goldfields-Esperance region. She is a passionate artist who draws inspiration and strength from her family and the beautiful nature that surrounds her.
Carol has worked in education for the majority of her life, including as an Aboriginal and Islander Education Officer and Playgroup Leader. With her love of art, she has shifted focus to teaching resilience and wellbeing workshops through the arts, both with adults and children.
All her life, she has been surrounded by her families amazing creative abilities. Her mother had thirteen children and they have all inspired her in some way. There are a number of practicing artists in her large family. Carol’s mother and her sister, Christine, were huge influences on her and her artistic journey.
Carol and her sister Pauline are currently working on setting up an Art Wellness Retreat business with the end goal being participants learning wellness and resilience through art. With their combined knowledge, they understand that there is a huge need for support around wellness and art, in its many forms, can be a great tool.
Carol Thompson, “Karlgurlas” 2018. This mural, located at the Kalgoorlie Police Station, was painted by Carol with the assistance of her sister Pauline Bonney and daughter Alicia Thompson.
"Our mural is about our mother and her connection to Kalgoorlie. It represents her as a whole and her 13 children. The Kulgurlas are exposed revealing the inside of the fruit and represents how much we have flourished since she passed away and how proud she would be of us.”
Previous Projects and Workshops
Two murals in Kalgoorlie for ArtGold, one a temporary piece on a shop window in response to the empty shops at the time on Hannans Street and the other with her sister Pauline outside the Kalgoorlie Police Station.
Helped design a Reconciliation Garden at North Kalgoorlie Primary School, including designing and creating a mosaic piece and painting a mural on the wall facing the garden.
Three commissioned paintings for Kalgoorlie Medical Imaging in partnership with Spartan First, the first Aboriginal business to deliver x-ray care to Frist Nations people in Australia.
Commissioned to paint a bone density x-ray machine and CT scanner at Kalgoorlie Medical Imaging.
Designed uniforms for Hannans Primary staff and Western Australian Country Health Services Goldfields/Esperance region.
Part of a team of four women who received sponsorship in for a project to have an exhibition called 130 Women - Her Stories of the Goldfields. This project involved researching 130 women in the Goldfields community and telling their stories. A book and exhibition highlighting thirteen of these women launched in 2023.
Delivered Esperance Community Arts funded workshops delivered to Esperance Senior High students from STARS and the Esperance Education Support Centre, Nulsen Primary School Little Yorgas Program, Esperance Residential College students, open sessions at the Esperance Public Library, and Esperance Home Schooling students.
Delivered workshops in Kalgoorlie including those with the Museum of the Goldfields for WA Day, ArtGold Social Fabric, Euphorium, and a Wellness Art workshop with staff at Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital.
Carol’s residency is in partnership with Esperance Community Arts with support from Healthways and Esperance Tjaltrjaak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation and by the WA Government through the Regional Exhibitions and Touring Boost.
