Maya Lin

Maya Lin

Early Life and Family

Maya Lin was born in Athens, Ohio, on October 5, 1959. Her parents fled Communist China in 1949 and came to the United States. In 1958, they moved to Athens, where they both became professors at Ohio University. Her mother was a poet and literature professor, while her father was a ceramics artist who became Dean of the College of Fine Arts.

Childhood Interests and Schooling

As a child, Maya enjoyed hiking, birdwatching, reading, and working in her father's studio. She often built miniature towns and loved solving problems. In high school, she was a top math student, took college courses, and worked at McDonald's. Maya described herself as a nerdy kid who didn’t date or wear makeup.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Maya Lin studied architecture at Yale University. When she was 21, she entered a national contest to design a Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C. The design had to match the surrounding monuments and include the names of all who died or were missing. Her winning design was a simple, V-shaped black granite wall engraved with 58,195 names, organized by date. The design was chosen from 1,442 entries. However, after it was revealed that she was a young Chinese-American student, she faced public criticism and harassment.

National Park Service Video on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Later Work and Recognition

Maya Lin has continued her work in architecture and sculpture. Her other major works include the Civil Rights Memorial in Alabama, the Wave Field in Michigan, and the Confluence Project in the Pacific Northwest. She has written books and is passionate about sustainable energy. In 2009, she received the National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama.

Discussion Questions

  1. Why do you think Maya Lin’s memorial design was controversial to some people?
  2. How did Maya’s childhood experiences prepare her for a career in design?
  3. What qualities do you think helped Maya succeed at a young age?
  4. Which of Maya Lin’s works would you most like to visit, and why?

Glossary

  • Architecture – The art and science of designing and building structures.
  • Memorial – A structure built to remember a person or event.
  • Granite – A very hard type of rock often used in buildings and monuments.
  • Sustainable energy – Energy that comes from sources that do not run out and are good for the environment.

Four Interesting Facts

  • Maya Lin won the memorial design contest while still a college student.
  • Her Vietnam Memorial lists names by date, not alphabetically.
  • She was criticized because of her age and heritage, even though her design was chosen fairly.
  • She received the National Medal of Arts from President Obama in 2009.

Early Life

Maya Lin was born on October 5, 1959, in Athens, Ohio. Her parents had come to the U.S. from China in 1949 to escape Communism. They moved to Athens in 1958 and became professors at Ohio University. Her mother taught literature and wrote poetry, while her father was a ceramics artist and later became Dean of the College of Fine Arts.

Growing Up

As a child, Maya enjoyed hiking, birdwatching, reading, and helping in her father’s ceramics studio. She liked solving problems and building things. In high school, she was strong in math, took college-level classes, and worked part-time. She considered herself a bit nerdy.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial

At Yale University, Maya studied architecture. When she was 21, she entered a national contest to design a Vietnam War memorial. The rules required it to include all names of those who died or went missing and to avoid political messages. Maya’s winning design featured a V-shaped wall made of polished black granite with 58,195 names listed by the date of death or disappearance. Her entry was chosen from over 1,400 submissions. After her identity was revealed, she was criticized for being young and Chinese-American.

Career and Recognition

Maya Lin has created many other projects, such as the Civil Rights Memorial in Alabama, the Wave Field in Michigan, and the Confluence Project in the Pacific Northwest. She also writes books and cares deeply about using clean energy. In 2009, President Barack Obama awarded her the National Medal of Arts.
Maya Lin Activities