Born in Tirana, Albania, Anri Sala studied at the Albanian Academy of Arts before continuing his education at the École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and Le Fresnoy in Tourcoing. He gained international recognition in the late 1990s and early 2000s for his poignant video works that bridge documentary and poetic narrative.

Sala’s practice frequently utilizes film and sound installations to investigate how music and acoustic environments can alter the perception of historical sites and social contexts. His signature approach involves the meticulous synchronization of soundscapes with visual sequences, often focusing on the nuances of human communication and the passage of time.

He has been the subject of numerous solo exhibitions at major international institutions, including the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the New Museum in New York. His work is widely collected and has been featured in multiple editions of the Venice Biennale and Documenta.