Belgian born Ubac moved to Paris to start literature but soon turned his interests to art. He discovered Man Ray and Breton, who influenced him greatly. He moved to Germany, where he continued his studies in Cologne at the School of Applied Arts. During his career he worked as a sculptor, painter and photographer, experimenting with cutting edge techniques and inventing the burning process, developed together with David Hare. His photographs appeared on the Surrealist magazine Minotaure.