Maya Lin was born in 1959 in Athens, Ohio. She is remembered as the builder of the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. Her father was the Dean of Fine Arts at Ohio University. Her mother is a professor of literature at Ohio University. She draws inspiration for her sculpture and architecture from culturally diverse sources, including Japanese gardens, Hopewell Indian earthen mounds, and works by American earthworks artists of the 1960 and 1970’s. She studied at Yale University in (1986). She was a author of a book called Boundaries.

After watching the film the "Deer Hunter" in 1979 veteran Jan C. Scruggs first conceived of the idea for a Vietnams Veterans' Memorial. As Yale architect, student, Maya Lin submitted the winning design. Her parents were originally from Beijing and Shanghais, China, but moved to Ohio in 1949. Her heritage as a Chinese – American had a great influence on her choice of career.

Lin grew up surrounded by her mother's literature and her father's art. Her entry was chosen from among 1,400 others. Lin was 21 years old when her design won. Her monument is a slab of the soldiers' names that died in the war, and everybody appreciates it. She always tries to impress her older sibling her brother. She has designed several significant designs. Unlike many artist Maya Lin is an archeitect, and compelling speaker. Lin’s name became familiar in 1981. the monument was dedicated and officially opened to the public on November 11 1982 veterans day.