Marie Omernik App was born in 1937 and after high school entered the convent of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis, in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, where she taught art in high school and junior college. App graduated with a B.A. in art and education from Alverno College in Milwaukee and a M.A. and M.F.A. in graphics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 1972, she left the convent but received permission to document the sisters and life in the motherhouse. After moving to Southwestern Wisconsin, App began incorporating the Amish in her photographs.
