"Working from a pioneering fusion of sculpture and conceptually based performance, Paul McCarthy is one of the most influential, yet least recognized artists in the U.S. today. While his architectural installations incorporating video and performance artifacts have received critical and curatorial attention during the present decade, few viewers are familiar with his artistic evolution, or with the impact his work has had on two generations of Los Angeles artists. This publication, covering about 400 works from all areas of his activity, gives an exemplary insight into McCarthy's works from the early 1970s up to the present day. Experts on his work give comprehensive descriptions and analyses of the American artist's performances and installations, examine the unique ties between his works and cinema, and explore the dialogue between New York and Los Angeles, particularly in the formulation and development of conceptual art."--Publisher's description