Vivian was born in 1978 in Alice Springs and lives in Ernabella. She is the current deputy chair of the Ernabella Council. She attended school at Kenmore Park and moved to Adelaide for high school. Her father, Kunmanara (Kawaki) Thompson, was a highly regarded senior Pitjantjatjara man, important in the Land Rights Movement. Her mother, Carlene, is on the board of NPY women’s council and a senior member of the art centre. Vivian has four sisters, three of whom also paint at the art centre.
She is the mother of three children, two of whom attend Ernabella Anangu School. Vivian first started doing artwork while in school and learnt milpatjunanyi (telling stories in the sand). Vivian has been painting at the art centre since 2004 and working with ceramics since 2009. That year she was part of the Remote Communities Ceramic Project and did a residency at ANU's Ceramic Workshop. Vivian ceramics have been exhibited all over Australia. In 2009 her work was acquired by the National Gallery of Australia.
