Paul Pavia was born in 1971 in New York City, where he grew up immersed in the art world. His grandfather was a painter, his father, Philip Pavia, was a sculptor in the Abstract Expressionist movement, and his mother, Natalie Edgar, formerly an art critic for Art News, is a painter. Pavia passed away in 2023.

From 1986 to 1998, Pavia spent the summers studying the classical techniques in stone carving and bronze casting in Pietrasanta, Italy, a center for sculpture in Europe. He majored in Philosophy and Studio Art at Binghamton University, after which he concentrated on sculpture full time and had his first one-man show of work in welded steel at the Millennium Gallery in East Hampton, New York. 

Several years later Pavia began welding in bronze, as well as incorporating other materials into his work: primarily marble, wood and stainless steel. 

Pavia’s work has been exhibited widely, including at Ashawagh Hall, Amagansett, NY; Butler Fine Arts, the Millennium Gallery, folioeast, and Solar, East Hampton, NY; the Sculpture Center, the American Academy, The Annex, 2nd Street Gallery, Phoenix Gallery, White Box Gallery and Side Show Gallery in New York, NY; and the St. Agostino Museum, Pietrasanta, Italy.,