César

César Baldaccini (1921–1998), known simply as César, was a French sculptor celebrated for his inventive use of industrial materials and processes. He gained international recognition for his 'Compressions,' works created by crushing automobiles into dense rectangular blocks, and his 'Expansions,' polyurethane foam sculptures that captured the unpredictable flow of the material as it expanded. A leading figure in the Nouveau Réalisme movement, César transformed everyday industrial objects into monumental works of art that challenged traditional notions of sculpture and craftsmanship.