Paul McCarthy began his studies in experimental painting and performance at the University of Utah (1968), later earning an interdisciplinary master's degree in art and film production from the University of Southern California (USA). Early in his career, he sought to break the limitations of painting through the use of the body and unconventional materials, such as bodily fluids and food. Drawing from the world of the American entertainment industry, McCarthy's work encompasses performances recorded on video and in photographs, large-scale sculptures, and installations.

His works make the public uncomfortable by containing critiques of consumerism and art, as well as obscene insinuations. Between 2000 and 2001, a retrospective exhibition of his work toured the United States (Museum of Contemporary Art of Los Angeles, and New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York); Villa Arson (France); and Tate Liverpool (England).