Lily was born Prince Regent River area c. 1921. From her father’s country, Woombangowangoorr, she went with her mother and family to Mitchell Plateau. She married Jack Karadada and eventually settled in Kalumburu where she lived with her huge extended and very talented family.
Lily is one of Australia’s most important contemporary aboriginal artists. Whilst she varies her subject matter, she has never compromised on style. Lily’s paintings are instantly recognisable. Lily paints Wandjina – with varied totems, rain dotting, lightning (Black Wandjina), turtles, cave pools with bubbles – all different but all Lily Karadada.
Lily was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal for Contribution to Art in 2003.
A lovely lady, with a wonderful, infectious laugh – once met, never forgotten.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
1981
– Art of the Australian Aborigine, Museum fur Volkerkunde, Leipzig, Dresden, Germany
1988
– Karnta, Touring South-east Asia
1990
– Balance, Brisbane
1991
– Aboriginal Women’s Exhibition, Art Gallery of NSW
1992
– Broome Fringe Festival
1993
– Images of Power, National Gallery of Victoria
1994
– Power of the Land, Masterpieces of Aboriginal Art, National Gallery of Victoria
2003
– “Spirit Country”, Matsunoyama, Hokkaido and Tokyo, Japan
2004
– “Aborigènes – les couleurs du Rêve”, Muséum d’Histoire naturelle, Lyon, France
2005
– PALS Art Exhibition, Wardarnji Aboriginal Cultural Celebration, Fremantle
2006
– Dreaming Their Way:Australian Aboriginal Women Painters, National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington DC
2007
– Back To The Board, Coo-ee Gallery, Sydney
– Japingka Gallery, Fremantle
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
– Artbank, Sydney
– Queensland Art Gallery
– Kelton Foundation, Santa Monica USA
– Berndt Museum of Anthropology, University of W.A.
– Hank Ebes Collection, Victoria
– Art Gallery of South Australia
– Christensen Collection, in situ Museum of Victoria
– Flinders University Art Museum, Adelaide
– National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
