At first Bury started painting and underwent the influence of surrealism evolving to abstraction. He became a member of Cobra and had close contacts with Dotremont and Alechinsky. In 1952 he found the group Art Abstrait which strived towards artistic innovation and international breakthrough. When Bury got to know the work of Calder in 1950, it brought him new notions. From 1953 onwards he started cutting out elements and combining them to Plans mobiles.

Henceforth he would exclusively make sculptures which he brought to life by means of electric motors. He became internationally known with his idiosyncratic and innovative work in which movement is central.