Chillida was born in San Sebastian, in the Basque province of Spain. From 1943 to 1947 he studied architecture in Madrid. He spent the years 1948 -1950 in Paris where he exhibited terra cotta and plaster sculptures. He continued making sculptures, working also in wrought iron and experimenting with collage work. He had his first one-man exhibition in Madrid in 1954. Between 1954 and 1956 he made his first woodcuts and also began etching. During 1971 he was visiting professor at Harvard University. In 1984 a Chillida Foundation was established in Zabalaga, Spain, which has a large sculpture park and a comprehensive collection of the artist's works. He has won very many awards for his prints as well as his sculpture and most important important public collections include his works.