Paul McCarthy (American, b.1945)
Untitled, 2003

signed and dated 'Paul McCarthy 2003' (on the mount, lower right)
markers on inkjet paper

Dimensions: 69.2 x 100.3 cm. (27 1/5 x 39 1/2 in.)

With Luhring Augustine, New York
Sale; Christie's, New York, 6 March 2015, lot 264
Private Collection, London

Paul McCarthy, born in 1945 in Salt Lake City, Utah, is a provocative American artist known for his boundary-pushing work in performance, sculpture, video, and installation. After earning his BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute and MFA from USC, McCarthy became a central figure in contemporary art, using unconventional materials such as ketchup, chocolate, and bodily fluids to challenge consumer culture, American myths, and societal taboos.

One of his most notable projects is Chocolate Factory 2014, a large-scale installation at the Monnaie de Paris where he transformed the space into a working chocolate production line, manufacturing erotic and grotesque chocolate figures. The project was both a critique of mass production and a sensory overload, blending absurdity with industrial spectacle. This work appears to be a preliminary to that work.

McCarthy’s work is held in major institutions worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Whitney Museum of American Art, Tate Modern, and the Walker Art Center. His installations often blur the line between performance and object-making, reflecting a deep critique of capitalism, entertainment, and violence. While he has sparked controversy for the explicit and often confrontational nature of his work, McCarthy remains a vital figure in contemporary art, with influential exhibitions across Europe and the United States. His decades-long career, including his years teaching at UCLA, continues to inspire and challenge both audiences and artists.