Akmal Jaya was born in June 1966 at Rengat, Riau. He went to art school in Padang before he went to ISI (Institut Seni Rupa Indonesia) in Yogyakarta, majoring in the art of statue. His ability to paint is acquired from his time at ISI. His Major in the Art of Statue also enhance his ability to understand proportion, anatomy, shape precision as well as expression. Since his earliest work, Akmal Jaya chose to use variety of stones as a media for his art. His past experience with stones includes granite, marble, obsidian and a fossilized timber. One of Akmal Jaya's biggest influence for his art and life principle is the culture, values, as well as the daily life of locals in Yogyakarta.