Born in 1970, Osman Akan studied graphic design at Bilkent University and holds a masters degree in Critical Studies and Integrated Media from California Institute of the Arts. Trained as a new media artist, Akan is known for his use of unusual materials and his large scale installations. He has been working with light as a medium, especially with optical fibers, since 2004. Akan installed his first large public commission utilizing fiber optic systems in Franconia Sculpture Park in Minnesota, USA. In 2007 Akan received New York State Council on the Arts individual artist grant to realize The Third Bridge, a commission for the 40th year celebration of the arts in New York City Parks. In 2010 he completed “Albedo” a permanent sculpture commissioned by the City of Denver. “Fragmenta”; Akan’s first sculpture installed to a sub-arctic site, joined the permanent public art collection of the city of Anchorage Alaska in May 2012. “Nano” a parametric sculpture for the new Nanocenter at the State Unv. of New York Institute of Technology can be seen at the entrance of this multi billion-dollar research facility. In 2016 he installed “Lux Aeterna,” a commissions for the Indianapolis Bicentennial Plaza that is installed in front of the State House. Akan is currently working on several projects such as a commission for the Unv. Of Anchorage and the United Nations Plaza.

A Jerome and NYSCA fellow, Akan has been involved in many public and private projects and has had exhibitions both in United States and in Europe. Osman Akan lives and works in New York / USA.