Ohr was born in Biloxi, Mississippi. He learned the potter's trade from Joseph Meyer, a French potter, in New Orleans. He established the first blacksmith shop in Biloxi and later opened the first grocery store there.

A notable feature of Ohr's pottery is that many items thin walls, metallic glazes, and twisted, pinched shapes. Ohr's works also include photography, often whimsical self portraits.

The Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art has a permanent collection of Ohr's work. A new museum designed by Frank Gehry was scheduled to open in July 2006, but was partially destroyed during Hurricane Katrina when a casino barge was washed onto it.