A childhood fascination with the ancient world and archeology led Lily Lamis to become a lover of the arts.  A native of Charleston, South Carolina, she majored in the fine arts at the College of Charleston and later continued her studies at Rice University.

Lily Lamis has had an extensive and important involvement in the art world for over fifty years.  In 1971, she created the Young Women of the Arts, and in 1991 she was the founder of the Wellington Society for the Arts. Both of these institutions were the unique creation of Ms. Lamis based on her philosophy that only through complete understanding does one grow to know and love the arts.  Ms. Lamis was responsible for bringing prominent artistic individuals and nationally known scholars in all phases of the fine arts and decorative arts to appear as guest lecturers to an outstanding luncheon lecture series.

Throughout the years the series was presented in the cities of Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and the Palm Beaches.  In recognition of the consistently high caliber of the institutions’ guest speakers, the Atlanta Constitution wrote: “The roster reads like a Who’s Who of the pacesetters in cultural affairs.”

Guest speakers included Erik Bruhn, Artistic Director of the National Ballet of Canada, Sarah Caldwell, Artistic Director of the Opera Company of Boston, Thomas Hoving, Director of the Metropolitan Museum, John Houseman, actor and theatrical producer, Clement Conger, Curator of the White House, Edward Villella and Jacques d’Amboise, celebrated ballet dancers at the New York City Ballet, Clive Barnes, dance and theater critic for The New York Times, Everett Fahy, Director of the Frick Collection, John Cairney, Scottish film actor, Michael Tilson Thomas, internationally acclaimed conductor and composer, renowned architects Harry Weese, Joseph Passonneau, and Tician Papachristou, Rollin Van Hadley, Director of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, John Mazzola, President of Lincoln Center and Roger Stevens, Chairman of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Arts, and many others.

Lily Lamis was a frequent and popular lecturer to the Young Women of the Arts and The Wellington Society for the Arts.  She also has appeared as a guest speaker to numerous clubs and organizations, presented a series of lectures at Emory University, and made numerous appearances on television.  The Atlanta Journal described Lily Lamis as “one of Atlanta’s best known art lecturers.” 

As a lecturer in art history her special interest is in 18th and 19th century French and English art and portraiture.  Her passion and love of art is expressed in every lecture.  She may be contacted through this website regarding potential engagements.