Pierre Giraud is brought up in the Limousin by his grandmother, a faith healer, and follows an academic training in Limoges in his youth. In 1946, he starts making sculptures out of bark, brightly colored gouaches, and lead pencil drawings depicting magicians, druids, and other figures characterized by large eyes. Around this time he meets Gaston Chaissac, who greatly encourages him in his work and introduces him to art milieus in Paris. His brother, Robert Giraud, participates in the setting up of the Foyer de l’Art Brut, with Jean Dubuffet.