Colleen Charlie

Colleen Charlie is one of the foremost artists at Waralungku Arts, with a distinctive style and subject matter that reflects her interest in both the environment and life ‘on country’. This interest comes from a strong background of both culture and rural/bush life going right back to her childhood days.

Colleen was born in Burketown, Queensland and is of Garrwa descent. She attended primary school in Townsville at a ‘school for bush children’ as it was known at the time.

Colleen’s parent’s worked very hard doing labouring jobs on pastoral properties on the Northern Territory/Queensland border where she would return during school holidays and spend her time ‘out bush’.

Her family made the move to Borroloola in early 1980s, where she continued to attend school before going away to boarding school (Darwin, Kormilda College).

Colleen is a mother to five children and grandmother to five. She fits her work at the art centre into her busy life of working as a Coordinator for CDP, family responsibilities and other community activities. She loves to paint, screen print and is also developing her weaving skills.