Marlene Connelly

Marlene Connelly is an emerging artist from Kaltukatjara (Docker River). She was born in Tennant Creek. Her mother Bonnie Connelly moved to Kaltukatjara from Ebenezer with Marlene when she was 11 or 12. Her father is Yunkuntjatjara and she has family in Port Augusta. She has lived in Kaltukatjara since she was 12. She married Mr Smith from Warakurna and they lived together in Kaltukatjara and grew up Roxanne. Mr Smith has sadly passed away.

Marlene paints important ladies tjukurpa (dreaming) of the Kaltukatjara area about the traveling of the sisters through the ranges. This area is significant to the ladies of the Western Desert and is a meeting place for law and culture – senior women passing on their knowledge to the young women.