Marissa Thompson Australian, Pitjantjatjara, b. 1985

Marissa was born in 1985 and grew up between her family's homeland and Ernabella. She attended Kenmore Park Anangu School. Her father was an integral part of the APY Land Rights MovemMarissa was born in1985 and grew up between her family's homeland and Ernabella. She attended Kenmore Park Anangu School. Her father was an integral part of the APY Land Rights Movement,and her mother, Carlene Thompson is a former Ernabella Arts chairwoman and a senior Ernabella artist. Marissa is a talented young ceramic artist and jeweller. She has four sisters, three of whom also paint at the art centre. She has two young children. Marissa completed her first painting at Ernabella Arts in 2007 and her first ceramic work in 2009. She was also an integral part of the first two workshops at Ernabella of the Indigenous Jewellery Project. Her jewellery work incorporates resin,traditional timber carvings and designs cast in silver. Her jewellery work was exhibited at the Jam Factory as part of the Tarnanthi Festival in 2015. She is a skilled ceramic hand builder. Marissa's ceramic style is incredibly precise. Her work often depicts tatgu (gumnuts) and kurparu (magpies), sometimes branching out into minyma inma(womens ceremony),tadpoles, the rainbow serpent and maku (witchetty grubs). Marissa's ceramics continues to be exhibited throughout Australia.In 2019 her work was featured at Aboriginal Contemporary, McCulloch & McCulloch, Nishi Gallery, Heide Museum of Modern Art and many more