After his release Paolozzi studied at the Edinburgh College of Art in 1943 and at the Slade School of Fine Art until 1947, citing the dadaists among his influences. He then worked in Paris for two years meeting with surrealists and artists such as Alberto Giacometti, Georges Braque and Fernand Léger. After Paris, he moved back to London establishing a studio workshop in Chelsea, filled with hundreds of found objects, models, sculptures, materials, tools, toys and stacks of books. Paolozzi’s early work, especially his series for BUNK! were created in the late 1940s and early 1950s and released in 1952. These works easily pre-date the American pop art movement but also have a different tone. They reflect the reality gap that existed between the imagery of American glamour, affluence and optimism and the rationing and social hardship experienced in post-war Britain.

Having been one of the catalysts for the British pop art movement very early on and being a key member of The Independent Group, Paolozzi moved away from collage and became increasingly interested in scientific and technological developments of the post–war era. Working with Nigel Henderson he created prints and sculptural visions of the mechanised world and incorporated impressions of nuts, bolts and scrapyard junk into his work. 

In the mid 1980s Paolozzi was commissioned to create murals for the Tottenham Court Road underground station with many more public commissions following. Other places in London to see Paolozzi public works include:

•  The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, A Maximis Ad Minima

•. The Design Museum, High Street Kensington, Head of Invention

•. The British Library forecourt, Euston Road, Newton After Blake

•. Quayside, Royal Victoria Dock, Docklands, Vulcan

•. Euston station forecourt, Euston Road, Piscator

Buy his artwork at mainstream galleries here.