Lily Kelly Napangardi was born at Haasts Bluff in the Northern Territory around 1948. She moved to the newly established settlement of Papunya in the 1960s. During her time in Papunya, Lily  engaged in painting activities, notably assisting with works by her husband Norman Kelly.

In the early 1980’s Lily Kelly Napangardi returned to Mt Liebig with her husband. It was at this time she began to develope her distinctive fine veils of dots. Her paintings portray the sand shifting in the elements. This story (Tali or sandhills) was passed to her by her father and the story has been important to her family for generations.

Lily is now one of the senior Law Women of the community, teaching the younger women traditional dancing and singing and the Luritja language. She is a highly collectable artist with a strong following.