Alain Cantarel was born on March 1, 1949 in Bordeaux. He began working in various mediums at a very young age, and created his first pieces in wood and stone. Later, after studying philosophy and dramatic art, he turned to sculpture using wood, stone, granite and marble. His friendship with the sculptor and bronze maker Claude Tourneur led him to spend three years in his workshop to refine the techniques of working with steel and bronze.