César Baldaccini – Nouveau Réalisme
Full name: César Baldaccini
Place of birth: Marseille, France
Education: École des Beaux-Arts de Marseille
Artistic movement: Nouveau Réalisme
Artistic career
César began with classical studies at the Beaux-Arts in Marseille but was quickly drawn to experimentation. He gained recognition in the 1950s with figurative metal sculptures, then developed his artistic signature: compressions. He crushed cars, bicycles, and everyday objects to create monumental sculptures—denouncing consumer society while inventing a new aesthetic.
In the 1960s, he also explored expansions (inflated materials, resin, or foam), as well as human body imprints, delving into the sensual and psychological dimension of objects. His work sits at the crossroads of conceptual art and Nouveau Réalisme, and he collaborated with many contemporary artists such as Yves Klein and Arman.
Major works
Car Compressions (1958–1961): Crushed cars and metals transformed into imposing sculptural pieces.
Le Pouce (1965–1967): Monumental sculpture of a human thumb, symbolizing strength and creativity.
Plastic Expansions (1968–1970): Experiments with inflatable materials, exploring volume, form, and space.
Quote
"Art is a way of transforming matter and giving meaning to the absurd."
