Paul McCarthy

Paul McCarthy: Biography in Details

Who is Paul McCarthy?

Paul McCarthy is a contemporary artist who works across media in performance, sculpture, and film. He was inspired by American popular culture, lewd sexual innuendo, and also the work of Joseph Beuys. He develops complicated critiques of consumerism and art.

What are the birth facts of Paul McCarthy?

He was born on August 4, 1945, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Paul holds American citizenship but his ethnicity is unknown. He was formally trained as a painter, his major interest lies in the day-to-day activities and the mess created by those activities.

Paul McCarthy: Education History

He attended Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, and studied art, and later continued his study at the University of Utah until 1969. Paul received a BFA in painting from the San Francisco Art Institute and she studied film, video, and art at the University of Southern California and received an MFA in 1972.

Paul McCarthy: Professional Life and Career

His main work involves performance, installation, film, and ‘painting as action’. On the one hand, he is a critical analyst of the mass media and consumer-driven American society and its hypocrisy, repression, and double standards while on the other hand, it is European Avant-garde art that has had the most influence on his art from the language.

He sought to break the limitations of paintings by using the body as a paintbrush or even canvas and later he incorporated bodily fluids or food as substitutes into his works. He progressed in his painting to transgressive performance art, psychosexual events intended to fly in the face of social convention.

His work ‘Painter’ in 1995 often seeks to undermine the idea of ‘the myth of artistic greatness’ and attacks the perception of the heroic male artist. He made transfixion with Johanna Spyri’s novel ‘Heidi’ and that led to his 1992 video and installation, ‘Heidi: Midlife Crisis Trauma Center and Negative Media-Engram Abreaction Release Zone’ where he made his collaboration with Mike Kelley.

Paul McCarthy taught performance, video installation, and performance history at the University of California, L.A. from 1982 to 2002.

His major works in the late 1960s include ‘Mountain Bowling’ in 1969 and ‘Hold an Apple in Yor Armpit’ in 1970, ‘Sailor’s Meat’ in 1975, ‘The Garden’ in 1991, etc.

Paul McCarthy: Net Worth and Salary

It is estimated that Paul McCarthy has a net worth of around $5 million and his main source of income is his professional career.

Is Paul McCarthy involved in any rumors and controversies?

Paul McCarthy unveiled ‘Tree’ in Place Vendôme in Paris in October 2014, in which the inflatable sculpture, was said to resemble a large green butt plug. He was controversial for sullying the historic square and within the two days, the sculpture was deflated by someone and McCarthy mentioned that he did not want it to be repaired or replaced.

Once Paul threw himself around a ketchup-spattered classroom at the University of California, San Diego and he was dazed and self-injured in 1976. He vomited several times and the audience left and he was ordered to clean up the mess. He along with graduate students spent several hours cleaning up the ketchup and vomit.

Paul McCarthy: Description of Body Measurements

Paul McCarthy has white hair and black eyes. Other information regarding his height, weight, etc. is not available.

Paul McCarthy: Social Media Profile

Paul McCarthy does not seem to be active on social media like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. He had not opened any of the accounts.

To know more about birth facts, family, childhood, education, profession, awards, net worth, rumors, body measurements, and social media profiles of Susan Boyle, and Gavin Magnus, please click on the link.

Paul McCarthy's Birthday Dates