Onay Akbaş was born in Fatsa in 1964. He finished Kastamonu Paşa High School in 1980, and graduated from the Painting Department at Marmara University in 1985. He won first prize in the Turkish Painting Competition Exhibition among high schools. Following his graduation, Akbaş worked as a professional painter in Istanbul for two years. He then taught at Izmir Maltepe Military High School from 1987 to 1988. He received an honor prize in the Bandırma Festival in 1987. In 1988, Akbaş moved to Paris and founded his workshop. In 1992, he won first prize in the Beaujolais Painting Competition. Currently, he continues his painting in Paris. Akbaş has had many solo exhibitions and participated in numerous group exhibitions in Turkey and Europe.