Carbiene McDonald was born in Papunya in 1961, son of Snowy McDonald. As a young man, Carbiene travelled back to his father's homelands and inherited his Tjukurrpa (Dreaming). This Tjukurrpa is associated with a series of waterholes running between Docker River and Kata Tjuta. Specifically, it includes four important sites: Petermann Ranges, Docker River, Kalaya Murrpu (Blood's Range) and Mulyayti near Kata Tjuta.

Carbiene’s work embodies the quality of innovation steeped within tradition, and his practice of filling the canvas with coloured squares of loose acrylic paint creates work of immense depth and sophistication. Having only taken up painting later in life, in 2018, his passion for painting coupled with his extreme dedication and enthusiasm has led him to quickly make a name for himself.

Winner of the prestigious Hadley’s Art Prize (2019), a finalist in the Vincent Lingiari Art Award (2019), and the Telstra NATSIAA (2023), his work is held in the Art Gallery of NSW Collection, Charles Darwin University Collection and in significant private collections in Australia.