Tjungkara Ken is the youngest of nine children, to artists Mick Wikilyiri and Paniny Mick from the Amata community in South Australia. The Amata community is in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands in north-western South Australia. Her mother's Country is Wingellina and her father's Country is Amata.

Tjungkara has been a finalist in the Archibald Prize (2017) and the Wynne Prize (2019, 2021). In the 2021 Wynne Prize, she was awarded the Roberts Family Prize. She has also been a finalist in the Telstra Award numerous times (2022, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2010).