Ali Akay (1957), born in Istanbul, completed his undergraduate degree in 1979, his master's degree in 1980, and defended his doctorate in 1986 in the Department of Sociology at the University of Paris VIII. He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Political Sciences and Philosophy departments in the same years. Akay has been teaching at the Department of Sociology since 1990 and at the Department of Painting since 1992 at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University.
 

In the transdisciplinary research areas of Sociology, Sociology of Art, Philosophy and Art History, numerous articles and journal inscriptions were published in Turkey, France, Germany, Austria, England, Kazakhstan, Israel, Slovenia, and America. More than 20 books have been released by publishing houses such as Baglam, Ayrinti, Minör, Belge, Yapi Kredi, Dedalus, Dogu Bati, Bogaziçi, and Kime. Among the journals he founded, his writings appeared in the "Toplumbilim" (Sociology) between 1991 and 2012 and in "Teorik Bakis" (Theoretical Overview) from 2012 to the present.
 

Akay has curated many exhibitions in galleries and museums around the world. He worked as an independent curator and provided guidance counseling at the establishment of the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art (2004-2007), Akbank Culture and Art Center (2003-2012), and Sekerbank Açikekran (2011-2022). His recent exhibitions include; "Seven Questions for Asia" (6th Kuandu Biennial, Taipei, 2018), "Murmuring" (City Art Gallery, Ljubljana, 2018), "Cold Front from the Balkans" (Pera Museum, Istanbul, 2016).
 

Ali Akay, who has given lectures, seminars, and conferences at universities such as Paris VIII, INHA, Sorbonne (Paris), Humboldt (Berlin), Columbia (New York), and various museums in various cities, is the curator of the 6th Mardin Biennial, which will take place in May 2024.