Born in Marseille in 1921 to a modest family of Italian origin, César later wrote: "I am fundamentally a complete autodidact." Nevertheless, he joined the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris in 1943, alongside Albert Féraud and Philippe Hiquily. With limited financial resources, César quickly turned his focus toward experimenting with welding, creating his first sculptures from scrap metal, using inexpensive materials he found in junkyards. Tubes, bolts, and screws were transformed by his skillful hands into insects and animals. In 1954, he launched a true series of sculptures, skillfully playing with the different facets of metal materials through his immense creativity.

By welding metal waste, César constructed classical sculptures, manipulating the forms according to the material selected. His works combine classicism with unexplored modernity, resulting in original pieces that are both expressive and textured. His creations exude an unparalleled strength, as demonstrated by the monumental Centaure, which dominates Place de la Croix Rouge in the heart of Paris.

In 1954, he won the "Prix des Trois Arts" at the École des Beaux-Arts for Le Poisson, a sculpture made of iron. It was also during this time that he set up his workshop in Villetaneuse, in the northern suburbs of Paris. There, in this small factory, he explored the full potential of scrap metal, creating a fantastic bestiary from the material.

Aguttes Auction House regularly sells works by César, achieving impressive results with significant prices.

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