He was born in Erzurum (a city in eastern Turkey) in 1969. During primary school in 1978, he moved with his family to Bursa (a city in western Turkey). Primary and secondary education was completed in Bursa. After Uludag University, Faculty of Education, Fine Arts of Education, Textile Design, where he graduated in 1991.

Between the study years 1987-1991, he also worked for Kenan Özdesen, Ismail Üstüncan glass artists, as an artist's assistant in the studio of art.

One year in Erzincan, five years in Izmir taught technical textile industry, for vocational education. He resigned from his position in 1996 and moved to the Netherlands.

To pass on all Turkish art to the generations in the Netherlands, "Atelier Okan Akin" was founded in 2006. In his studio he is still busy with his artistic activities. In February 2022, he opened a gallery called "Dam Gallery" in the NDSM art campus in Amsterdam.

Recently he has published a book "Marbling Technique, Traditions Turkish Marbling". Since 2009 he has been writing a column about art for a magazine (Platform).