Lily Karadada (sometimes spelt Lily Karedada) 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 still lives 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. She is represented in every major Collection World Wide.
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
“Aborigčnes 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