Francois Bauer studied graphic design in Chaumont, then went to HEAR, where he deepened his curriculum in object design. He then studied at the European Institute of Ceramic Arts in Guebwiller. In his ceramics, Bauer orchestrates a shift in scale from his drawings, reinterpreting them on the objects as if to accentuate their form. He refers to his creations as "drawn objects," which he views as akin to drawings or paintings rather than traditional sculptures.

Inspired by traditions of decorative arts and European folk art, his work ranges from vibrant bowls to public wall mosaics. His process begins with the glazing and firing of hundreds of individual pieces of clay. After the firing, the pieces are assembled together. More recently, his work has ventured further into the realm of abstraction. And with his background in design, he values the significance of functional use in his work.

Francois Bauer’s work has been exhibited throughout California, including at the Carnegie Art Museum in Oxnard.