Carlos Revilla was born in Clermont-Ferrand, France. His father was a Peruvian diplomat and his mother was French. As the son of a diplomat Revilla spent his childhood in several countries of Europe, Latin America and the United States. He studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Amsterdam between 1956 and 1961. He became good friends with Savador Dali while living in Cadaqués, Spain, where he also came into contact with Man Ray and Marcel Duchamp. He was invited to show in the Venice Biennale on three occasions.