Roberto Matta

Roberto Matta, whose full name was Roberto Sebastián Antonio Matta Echaurren, was a Chilean artist (Santiago de Chile, Chile, 1911–Civitavecchia, Italy, 2002). He trained as an architect at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and, after moving to Europe, worked in Le Corbusier’s studio. Later, he became connected to the Surrealist circle in Paris, encouraged by his contact with André Breton.

His work developed mainly through painting, although he also made drawings, sculptures, and projects linked to design. Matta is considered a central figure in international Surrealism and an important influence on postwar art, especially for his imaginary spaces, organic forms, and exploration of the unconscious, energy, the body, and the cosmos. He also used his international recognition to denounce human rights violations and support victims of the Chilean dictatorship.

His work is part of collections such as the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de Chile, Museo Reina Sofía, Centre Pompidou, MoMA, Guggenheim Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Tate, LACMA, the Art Institute of Chicago, Stedelijk Museum, and MALBA. His awards include Spain’s Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts in 1985, Chile’s National Art Prize in 1990, the Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts in 1992, the Praemium Imperiale for Painting in 1995, and the Gabriela Mistral Order of Educational and Cultural Merit in 1997.
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