Born in Shiraz, Iran, Ali Tahayori currently lives and works in Sydney, Australia (Gadigal country). Raised in the oppressively homophobic climate of 1980s Iran, Tahayori assumed the identity of an outsider, further compounded by his migration to Australia in 2007. He holds a Doctorate in Medicine and MFA in Photomedia from National Art School. Tahayori has exhibited locally and internationally and has been a finalist and winner of several local and International art prizes.