Martha Claire Tompkins was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, and has lived in New York, Paris, Santa Fe and Boston. She serves on the Board of Cultural Survival in Cambridge and the Sociedad San Martin de Porres in Houston. Both of these non-profit organizations serve displaced people in need of educational and medical assistance. Recently Martha Claire created a documentary website and photo-journal describing the conditions of the Gulf Coast Katrina and Rita Hurricane refugees. Tompkins formerly served on the Boards of Artist Rescue Mission (1994-1996), Texas Fine Art Association (1984-1993), and Art Museum of South Texas (1984-1991).