Community Spotlight is a growing archive celebrating the people who have helped shape Carnarvon. Each story is based on interviews with the featured community member and is written using their own recollections and reflections. Every effort is made to present their story faithfully, preserving their voice and experiences for future generations.

Karen Ryan ("Big Momma")

Karen Ryan, known to some as “Big Momma,” is a local Carnarvon artist whose work is grounded in lived experience, community, and creativity.

She has called Carnarvon home since the 1970s, growing up on the reserve in tin sheds without lights or power. She reminisces about a simple life defined by a strong sense of community and belonging, a foundation that has remained with her throughout her life.

Family has always been central to Karen’s life. For a period, she stepped away from the creative scene to pursue secretarial work, supporting her loved ones while developing skills for her future. Her resilience, sense of responsibility, and deep care for others are values that are strongly ingrained and evident in the way she practices her craft.

In time, these values led her back to what she holds dearly. After several years away, Karen returned to the local arts space with a renewed sense of connection and direction.

Her lived experiences now inform her creative practice, guiding a practical and resourceful, hands-on approach. Embracing a “make do with what’s here” mindset, she often repurposes discarded materials, turning them into expressive artworks.

She draws inspiration comes from everyday life, including the landscapes she travels through, the stories she carries, and the creative influence of artists from other regions whom she has met along the way.

Since returning to her practice, Karen has sold eight artworks, and had pieces featured at the Gwoonwardu Mia Heritage and Cultural Centre. For Karen, art is about more than creating; it is also about giving back. She regularly volunteers, shares her work, and encourages others to step forward and express themselves.

Her message is simple: spread the love, put yourself out there, and give back where you can.

Karen remains deeply connected to the community that has shaped her and, in turn, continues to inspire it through her work and generosity. Her journey reflects how courage, a strong sense of purpose, and a good heart, can shape not only what we create, but also the impact we can have on others.