Lilly Kelly Napangarti was born at Haasts Bluff in the Northern Territory in around 1948.
She moved to the newly established settlement of Papunya in the 1960s.         During her time in Papunya, Lilly started painting, assisting with works by her husband Norman Kelly.           She is exceptionally unique and highly talented artist. She is a multi-faceted Artist whose talents include painting, basket weaving, carving and bead making, and also teaches younger women traditional dancing and singing.        She is one of the senior Law Women in the Watiyawanu community (325km North West of Alice Springs) and holds authority over the Women's Dreaming story associated with Kunajarrayi (Mt Nicker).
Lilly began painting in the early 1980s, winning the Northern Territory Art Award for Excellence in Aboriginal Painting in 1986.

Her paintings depict her country's sandhills, its winds and the desert environment after rain, especially the sandhills near Kintore area.
        She also features rock holes and mountain ranges which seem to appear and disappear with the changing winds and blowing sands, and the run-off from the rains makes a pattern of lines down the surface of the sandhills.

Lily Kelly's unique style has resulted in her works becoming highly sought-after by both private collectors and museums.