Yaritji Heffernan was born in Mulga Park station near Ernabella. Her parents were both Pitjantjatjara, her father was from Angkatja and her mother was from Umutju. Yaritji moved to Adelaide in 2010 and has been painting at the APY Studio Adelaide since it opened in May 2019.

Yaritji paints at the studio daily alongside other senior women and is an important leader and teacher in the centre, encouraging young artists in their emerging practice. Yaritji paints Kapi Tjukula (rock holes), an important source of water for Anangu during the dry season when most of the creeks dry up. Her concentric circles represent these rock holes, where water collects after the rains. Water is an essential element in the desert. Knowledge of rock hole sites is passed on from generation to generation and revered by all Pitjantjatjara people.