Elizabeth Gordon is a dedicated and tireless painter who was the first Balgo artist to have a solo exhibition. She comes from a family of respected painters: her mother is Ningie Nanala and her stepfather is Tjumpo Tjapanangka (c. 1929–2007). Elizabeth seems to have developed part of her repertoire of stylistic sensibilities, such as her interest in fields with contrasting textures, while painting with her mother. Her stepfather and his friend, the artist Dominic Martin, also took it upon themselves to teach Elizabeth about their country and gave her permission to paint some of their sites.

Elizabeth was born in the old Balgo Mission, where she attended school, and remembers moving to the current Balgo location in the back of a truck. As a young woman, Elizabeth cared for the elderly at the new mission alongside the high priestess Tjemma Napanangka (c. 1930–2016). She has a large family, including three sons, two daughters, and two grandsons.