Alison Milyika Carroll: 2020 Red Ochre Award For Lifetime Achievement

Alison Milyika Carroll is a senior Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara woman.

She is an accomplished artist and a significant cultural leader. Alison’s artistic practice, spanning batik, ceramics and painting, is highly respected. Her artwork communicates both Walka (design) and Tjukurpa (Law, Story and Dreaming).

Alison takes both old and new styles, melding them together to make her own unique visual language.

Over her four decades as an artist, Alison has been invited to show in over 200 exhibitions. Her artwork can be been seen in many international and Australian galleries and museums.

Alison is also a well-known singer and a member of the Ernabella Choir. She appeared in the 2011 ABC documentaries ‘No Ordinary Mission’ and ‘Nothing Rhymes With Ngapartji’.

Alison is an important advocate, leader and mentor for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and arts across the APY lands.

She is the current Chair of Ernabella Arts, Pukatja Community, APY Lands and has been involved with the organisation as an artist and a Director. She also works with Ku Arts, NPY Women’s Council and has held advisory roles on projects such as Songlines at the National Museum of Australia.

She is also a member of the Tarnanthi Cultural Advisory Committee.

Alison relishes her role as a teacher to emerging artists. She actively develops and advocates for opportunities for young people in her community, so that they remain connected to culture.

She works through her cultural practice to support the mental health of her community, in innovative, engaging and inclusive ways. She is a visionary who strives for the benefit of her community, and for generations to come.

Learn more about the Red Ochre Award for Lifetime Achievement.