Akiko Jackson is from Kahuku, a rural North Shore community on the island of O'ahu, Hawai'i. Jackson holds an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University, School of the Arts and an MA from California State University – Northridge, the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communications.

Jackson has exhibited her work nationally and internationally, including the Wing Luke Museum of Asian Pacific American Experience in Seattle, WA; the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art in Virginia Beach, VA; the American Museum of Ceramic Art in Los Angeles, CA; the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art in Santa Ana, CA; 1708 Gallery in Richmond, VA; the 4th World Ceramic Biennale Korea (CEBIKO) in Icheon Republic of Korea; and the Australian International Ceramics Triennale in Sydney, Australia.