artist
Carlos Pazos
birth
Barcelona, Spain, 1949
last update
23-04-2025
Carlos Pazos (Barcelona 1949) studied architecture, graphic design and art history at Eina, an art and design school in Barcelona. A heterogeneous creator, his work connects with Neo-Dadaism, Arte Povera, Surrealism and the aesthetics of Marcel Duchamp, Andy Warhol and Marcel Broodthaers. Although formally his work displays a marked sense of humour, it is also deeply dramatic. Pazos reveals the failure of modernity and questions the systems of representation: the image can no longer evoke reality and the self belongs to fiction. The artist, hiding behind a variety of masks, uses souvenirs and objects, and turns the art of collecting into one of the main themes in his work. With a kitsch aesthetic, he combines the poetics of the object with irony and the narcissistic mask.

Inquisitive by nature, Pazos has experimented with different creative fields. In the cinema, he played the principal role in És quan dormo que hi veig clar, 1987, a film by Jordi Cadena with texts by J.V. Foix, and in the action-movie Pianito, 1999, by Jordi Colomer; he was the director and designer of the play El bell lloc, 1998, by Joan Brossa, and wrote and directed the documentary Yo inventé unos Llopis, 2011. He has collaborated in artist’s books with Eduardo Mendoza, Ramón de España and Eduardo Lago, and is the author of the books Garabatos y zarpazos, 2004, and Pimpollos y papanatas, 2013. He has been the director of the dance hall Cibeles, 1978–82, the cocktail bar Bijou, 1983–86, inspired by the spectral bar in The Shining by Stanley Kubrick, and the musical bar Je-rrix, 1994–95.

Since 1970, year of his first solo show at the Ateneu de Barcelona, his work has been exhibited in numerous galleries in Barcelona (Ciento, Metrònom, Centre d’Art Santa Mònica, Caixa de Pensions) and Madrid (Buades, Gamarra y Garrigues, Masha Prieto and Juana de Aizpuru). He has also exhibited in other cities in Spain, as well as Paris, 1978, New York, 1989, and Brussels, 1989, among others.

In 2004 he was awarded the Spanish Premio Nacional de Artes Plásticas by the Ministry of Education and Culture, and in 2008 received the Catalan Premi Nacional d’Arts Visuals for his exhibition Don’t Tell Me Anything at MACBA and the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid, a retrospective of the work of thirty years exploring the subject of identity and the poetics of the object.
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The texts of the MACBA web draw on previous documentation. Please let us know if you find any errors.

works

56 results
see all
Mnemocine. Película recortable
2006 - 2007
Carlos Pazos
see detail
[3810_001_hist / Imatge] A sus pies señora
see detail
[1511_001_pub_l / Imatge] 1511_001_pub_l.jpg
see detail
[1501_001_hist / Imatge] Sense títol. Sèrie "Conocerle es amarle"
see detail
Sense títol
1995
Carlos Pazos
see detail
[3114_002_pub / Imatge] 3114_002_pub.tif
see detail
Objects in Mirror Are Closer than They Appear
1992
Carlos Pazos
see detail
[1207_002_rgb / Imatge] Un elefante en el limbo
see detail
[3112_002_hist / Imatge] Niños buenos, niños malos
see detail
Carpeta "XXV Artistes Catalans. Pavelló de Catalunya Expo'92"
1992
Rafael Bartolozzi
see detail
¿Qué pasó con la música?
1989
Carlos Pazos
see detail
Sense títol
1989
Carlos Pazos
see detail
[6585_001_rgb / Imatge] Dedicado admirador de la naturaleza
see detail
[6589_001_pub / Imatge] No hay replay
see detail
Con el calor se despegan las estrellas
1988
Carlos Pazos
see detail
[0057_001_hist / Imatge] While my Lady sleeps
see detail
[1637_001_hist / Imatge] L'amour c'est comme un jour. Sèrie: "Esa estúpides sensación"
see detail
[6601_002_rgb / Imatge] Que te folle un pez
see detail
De nuevo
1987
Carlos Pazos
see detail
[6596_002_pub / Imatge] Panorama de amor al amanecer
see detail
Me gusta mucho pero no quiero más
1986
Carlos Pazos
see detail
Acaramelando a Wendy
1986
Carlos Pazos
see detail
[1888_001_hist / Imatge] Con llanto de cocodrilo. Sèrie: " Esa estúpida sensación"
see detail
[6600_004_pub / Imatge] Demasiado joven para el rock and roll (Go Johnny Go)
see detail
[6594_004_hist / Imatge] C'est chic, n'est-ce pas?
see detail
Cromo 8: Regreso del país de nunca jamás
1984
Carlos Pazos
see detail
[6599_001_rgb / Imatge] 6599_001_rgb.tif
see detail
El mar me bailaba en tus ojos turbios de duralex
1984
Carlos Pazos
see detail
[6597_004_pub / Imatge] Papá dijo no al rock and roll
see detail
Cupido eres tú
1983
Carlos Pazos
see detail
[6592_001_rgb / Imatge] 6592_001_rgb.tif
see detail
[6588_001_rgb / Imatge] 6588_001_rgb.tif
see detail
[0175_001_pub / Imatge] Aquella noche volví a llorar con Bambi
see detail
[6591_001_rgb / Imatge] 6591_001_rgb.tif
see detail
[3851_001_pub / Imatge] Mi pathos doy
see detail
[6590_001_rgb / Imatge] 6590_001_rgb.tif
see detail
[1507_001_pub_l / Imatge] 1507_001_pub_l.jpg
see detail
[1505_001_pub_l / Imatge] 1505_001_pub_l.jpg
see detail
[6586_001_rgb / Imatge] 6586_001_rgb.tif
see detail
[1500_002_pub_l / Imatge] 1500_002_pub_l.jpg
see detail
[6593_001_rgb / Imatge] 6593_001_rgb.tif
see detail
[6598_001_rgb / Imatge] 6598_001_rgb.tif
see detail
[3113_010_pub / Imatge] The Floor of Fame
see detail
Conocerle es amarle
1977
Carlos Pazos
see detail
[1504_001_pub_l / Imatge] 1504_001_pub_l.jpg
see detail
[1508_002_pub_l / Imatge] 1508_002_pub_l.jpg
see detail
[2958_006_hist / Imatge] En la intimidad
see detail
[1502_001_pub_l / Imatge] 1502_001_pub_l.jpg
see detail
[6595_001_rgb / Imatge] No me olvides
see detail
[1503_001_pub_l / Imatge] 1503_001_pub_l.jpg
see detail
[1487_022_hist / Imatge] Voy a hacer de mi una estrella
see detail
[3111_015_hist / Imatge] Models d'escultures
see detail
[3110_002_hist / Imatge] Pinturas
see detail
[6587_002_rgb / Imatge] 6587_002_rgb.tif
see detail
[1510_002_pub_l / Imatge] 1510_002_pub_l.jpg
see detail
[1509_001_pub_l / Imatge] 1509_001_pub_l.jpg
see detail
OBRA TITLE
OBRA TITLE
yyyy-YYYY
ARTIST NAME
Mnemocine. Película recortable
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of macba.
[3810_001_hist / Imatge] A sus pies señora
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[1511_001_pub_l / Imatge] 1511_001_pub_l.jpg
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[1501_001_hist / Imatge] Sense títol. Sèrie "Conocerle es amarle"
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Sense títol
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[3114_002_pub / Imatge] 3114_002_pub.tif
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Objects in Mirror Are Closer than They Appear
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[1207_002_rgb / Imatge] Un elefante en el limbo
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[3112_002_hist / Imatge] Niños buenos, niños malos
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Carpeta
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¿Qué pasó con la música?
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Sense títol
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[6585_001_rgb / Imatge] Dedicado admirador de la naturaleza
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[6589_001_pub / Imatge] No hay replay
this content can only be
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Con el calor se despegan las estrellas
this content can only be
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[0057_001_hist / Imatge] While my Lady sleeps
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[1637_001_hist / Imatge] L'amour c'est comme un jour. Sèrie: "Esa estúpides sensación"
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[6601_002_rgb / Imatge] Que te folle un pez
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De nuevo
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[6596_002_pub / Imatge] Panorama de amor al amanecer
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Me gusta mucho pero no quiero más
this content can only be
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Acaramelando a Wendy
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[1888_001_hist / Imatge] Con llanto de cocodrilo. Sèrie: " Esa estúpida sensación"
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[6600_004_pub / Imatge] Demasiado joven para el rock and roll (Go Johnny Go)
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[6594_004_hist / Imatge] C'est chic, n'est-ce pas?
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Cromo 8: Regreso del país de nunca jamás
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[6599_001_rgb / Imatge] 6599_001_rgb.tif
this content can only be
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El mar me bailaba en tus ojos turbios de duralex
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[6597_004_pub / Imatge] Papá dijo no al rock and roll
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Cupido eres tú
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[6592_001_rgb / Imatge] 6592_001_rgb.tif
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[6588_001_rgb / Imatge] 6588_001_rgb.tif
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[0175_001_pub / Imatge] Aquella noche volví a llorar con Bambi
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[6591_001_rgb / Imatge] 6591_001_rgb.tif
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[3851_001_pub / Imatge] Mi pathos doy
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[6590_001_rgb / Imatge] 6590_001_rgb.tif
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[1507_001_pub_l / Imatge] 1507_001_pub_l.jpg
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[1505_001_pub_l / Imatge] 1505_001_pub_l.jpg
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[6586_001_rgb / Imatge] 6586_001_rgb.tif
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[1500_002_pub_l / Imatge] 1500_002_pub_l.jpg
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[6593_001_rgb / Imatge] 6593_001_rgb.tif
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[6598_001_rgb / Imatge] 6598_001_rgb.tif
this content can only be
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[3113_010_pub / Imatge] The Floor of Fame
this content can only be
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Conocerle es amarle
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[1504_001_pub_l / Imatge] 1504_001_pub_l.jpg
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[1508_002_pub_l / Imatge] 1508_002_pub_l.jpg
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[2958_006_hist / Imatge] En la intimidad
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[1502_001_pub_l / Imatge] 1502_001_pub_l.jpg
this content can only be
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[6595_001_rgb / Imatge] No me olvides
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[1503_001_pub_l / Imatge] 1503_001_pub_l.jpg
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[1487_022_hist / Imatge] Voy a hacer de mi una estrella
this content can only be
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[3111_015_hist / Imatge] Models d'escultures
this content can only be
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[3110_002_hist / Imatge] Pinturas
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[6587_002_rgb / Imatge] 6587_002_rgb.tif
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[1510_002_pub_l / Imatge] 1510_002_pub_l.jpg
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[1509_001_pub_l / Imatge] 1509_001_pub_l.jpg
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documents

38 results
En temps real. La Col·lecció Rafael Tous d'art conceptual [Reportatge fotogràfic exposició]
document
14-5-2021 - 1-11-2021
Carlos Pazos : cook books : inventari provisional, 1999-2011 /[idea i projecte, Anna Capella ; textos, Anna Capella, Richer et Richer ; disseny, Álex Gifreu]
document
2011
Pascal Comelade i Carlos Pazos, amb la participació de Evru -- Dispositiu LEM de primavera [Enregistrament audiovisual activitat]
document
7-5-2010
Presentació del llibre "Fidelidad Total" de Carlos Pazos i Ramón de España [Reportatge audiovisual activitat]
document
22-3-2007
Carlos Pazos. No em diguis res [Reportatge fotogràfic exposició]
document
9-3-2007 - 6-5-2007
Aquí en la tierra como en el infierno / un guión de Carlos Pazos
document
2002
"Voy a hacer de mi una estrella" / Carlos Pazos
document
2002
El mundo del ritmo / [litografías] Carlos Pazos ; [texto] Eduardo Mendoza
document
1998
Carlos Pazos. Entrevista [Bibiografia i investigació]
document
[1997-1998]
L'Amour latent / [photos] Carlos Pazos ; [text] Vicenç Altaió
document
1990
El miedo es libre : memorabilia : notas a pie de objeto por Montserrat Cuchillo / Carlos Pazos
document
1990
Sólo tú / Carlos Pazos
document
1990
L'Amour latent / [photos] Carlos Pazos ; [text] Vicenç Altaió
document
1990
Jardín compartido / [grabado/collage] Carlos Pazos ; [textos] María Vela
document
1989
Carles Pazos : a la intimitat : collecció de deu postals / Carlos Pazos ; [text extret del Morning Cronicle ; traduït per Toni Marí]
document
1977
Carlos Pazos/Xavier Olivé
document
1975
Ràfols Casamada
document
[1975]
6 records / Carlos Pazos
document
[1972]
[Composició fotogràfica 1]
document
[1972?]
[Composició fotogràfica 1]
document
[1972?]
6 records / Carlos Pazos
document
[1972]
[Descripció del projecte "1219 mᵌ"]
document
[1972?]
1219 mᵌ x 45' x 9
document
[1972?]
[Composició fotogràfica 2]
document
[1972?]
[Fotografies "12319 mᵌ"]
document
[1972?]
1219 mᵌ
document
[1972?]
1219 mᵌ
document
[1972?]
[Descripció del projecte "1219 mᵌ"]
document
[1972?]
1219 mᵌ
document
[1972?]
1219 mᵌ x 45' x 9
document
[1972?]
1219 mᵌ x 45' x 9
document
[1972?]
1219 mᵌ
document
[1972?]
[Fotografía en acetat "1219 mᵌ"]
document
[1972?]
1219 mᵌ
document
[1972?]
1219 mᵌ
document
[1972?]
[Composició fotogràfica 2]
document
[1972?]
1219 mᵌ
document
[1972?]
Boleto para votar : acto de participación 22 de octubre 1971 : Pazos - Puppo - Muntadas
document
1971