ABOUT THE ARTIST – Ronnis Oher

I have been creating LifeMaps for about 30 years. I've always been interested in maps and used them for teaching history. But LifeMaps actually were the surprising result of a related assignment I gave to my 5th grade students as part of a unit they were studying on Mapping. On this page, you'll see the first map I ever drew (about my students in that class).

I began giving personalized maps as gifts to friends, family and colleagues for special occasions. People who saw the maps at parties and corporate events began asking me to create customized maps to give to their own friends and family.

Through my interviews, I am able to uncover the memorable moments experienced by the map recipients, their personality traits, as well as the important people and places in their lives. Then I depict this information in a way that is captivating, humorous and often, touching.

I often frame the maps with photographs and other memorabilia that ensures that LifeMaps are not only works of art, but treasured keepsakes for the recipients and their families. A LifeMap becomes a way to celebrate, honor and value someone for the unique person that they are.

LifeMaps are a labor of love and my only regret is that it is very seldom that I actually get to meet the person for whom I have created this treasure.  So I love to receive photos of them with their maps and comments about their reaction to this gift.  See my Testimonials section for some photos of and comments from recipients and gift givers.