Born Frank Uwe Laysiepen in Solingen, Germany, Ulay began his artistic career in the early 1970s, initially focusing on photography and the exploration of identity. He gained significant international attention for his use of the Polaroid camera, which he utilized to create large-scale, often distorted self-portraits that challenged traditional notions of the photographic medium.

Between 1976 and 1988, Ulay engaged in a highly influential artistic partnership with Marina Abramović. Their collaborative performances, such as Relation Works, pushed the physical and mental limits of the human body, exploring themes of endurance, trust, and the boundaries between the self and the other. These works remain foundational to the history of performance art.

Following the conclusion of his partnership with Abramović, Ulay continued to work as a solo artist, focusing on photography and performance until his death in 2020. His legacy is defined by his commitment to the ephemeral nature of performance and his persistent investigation into the complexities of human perception and social identity.