He studied Literature and Linguistucs in Leipzig and Vienna. In 1992 he gained a doctorate for his dissertation concerning the Vienna Group and received a diploma in Fachschule für Angewandte Kunst in Schneeberg.

He is a scholarship holder and a winner of numerous awards, e.g. Kunstpreis der Stadt Wolfsburg (2002), Villa Aurora Scholarship in Los Angeles (2008), IASPIS (Sztokholm, 2000), PS1 (New York, 1998), Villa Massimo in Rome (1997/98) and Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes Scholarship (1993).

He participated in international individual exhibitions, e.g. Kunstraum Dornbirn (2006), Kunstmuseum Thun (2004), Casino Luxembourg (2003), Migros Museum für Gegenwartskunst in Zurich (2001), Watari-Um Muzeum in Tokio (1998) and joint exhibitions: 51. Biennale in Vennice (2005), 4. Kwangju Biennale (Korea, 2002), Biennale of Sydney (2002), "etre natury", Fondation Cartier (Paris, 1998), Documenta X (Kassel, 1997).

http://olafnicolai.com/