Skip to main content

Roberto Matta Art

Chilean, 1911-2002

“The function of art,” the Surrealist Roberto Matta once stated, “is to unveil the enormous economic, cultural and emotional forces that materially interact in our lives and that constitute the real space in which we live.” In his paintings, Matta sought to expose those forces through the Surrealist practice of automatism, creating work in a free-associative state intended to conjure the unconscious.

After studying architecture in his native Chile, Matta, then 22, chose to pursue the field in Paris, where he mingled with stars of the avant-garde like Gertrude Stein, Salvador Dalí and Walter Gropius. In the late 1930s, he abandoned Paris, together with his job at Le Corbusier’s studio and (for a time) his career, for modern art’s new epicenter, New York City. There, he became a colleague of art legends like Marcel Duchamp and Arshile Gorky.

Although celebrated primarily for his work as a painter, Matta was an equally talented furniture designer. His furniture pieces, like his artworks, are the stuff of dreams. The back of his totem chair, for example, is composed of smiling, cartoonish creatures stacked on top of each other. In his MAgriTTA armchair, the top half of a plush green apple sticks out of large black bowler in homage to its namesake, the Belgian Surrealist René Magritte.

But perhaps the piece that most truly embodies his artistic philosophy is his 1966 Mallite modular system: a collection of spongy, undulating sofas and lounges that can be fitted together to form a puzzle-like room divider. The work, an original edition of which is in MoMA’s permanent collection, has in recent decades been a hard-to-find collectors’ item — until 2019, when Italian design brand Paradisoterrestre issued a reedition, available through Duplex.

Browse Roberto Matta's paintings and furniture designs on 1stDibs.

to
13
11
2
7
5
5
1
5
2
Overall Height
to
Overall Width
to
13
11
2
3
2
4
188
13
13
10
8
6
4
3
3
1
Artist: Roberto Matta
Dealer: End to End Gallery
Evilliante
By Roberto Matta
Located in Hollywood, FL
Artist: Roberto Matta Title:Evilliante Medium: Etching Carborundum with Collage and hand coloring with pastel on handmade paper Signed: Hand Signed Edition Number: 71/99 Measurem...
Category

1990s Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Etching

La Dulce Aqua Vita
By Roberto Matta
Located in Hollywood, FL
Artist: Roberto Matta Title: La Dulce Aqua Vita Medium: Carborundum etching on handmade paper Signed: Hand Signed Size: 41 x 48 Inches Edition: 116/125 Year: 2002 Notes: Publisher: ...
Category

Early 2000s Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Etching

Sans Titre 2 Original Pastel/Drawing on Paper
By Roberto Matta
Located in Hollywood, FL
Artist: Roberto Matta Title: Sans Titre 2 Medium: Original pastel/drawing on paper Signed: Hand Signed Measurements: 20" x 25" Framed: 28" x 35" Authentication: Kajsa Westling N...
Category

1960s Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Archival Paper

Sans Titre 3 Original Pastel/Drawing on Paper
By Roberto Matta
Located in Hollywood, FL
Artist: Roberto Matta Title: Sans Titre 3 Medium: Original pastel/drawing on paper Signed: Hand Signed Measurements: 20" x 27" Framed: 28" x 35" Authentication: Kajsa Westling N...
Category

1960s Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Archival Paper

Sans Titre Original Pastel/Drawing 1
By Roberto Matta
Located in Hollywood, FL
Artist: Roberto Matta Title: Sans Titre 1 Medium: Original pastel/drawing on paper Signed: Hand Signed Year: 1969 Measurements: 12" x 16" Framed: 20" x 24" Authentication: Kajsa...
Category

1960s Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Archival Paper

Hommage to Germana Original Drawing
By Roberto Matta
Located in Hollywood, FL
Artist: Roberto Matta Title: Hommage to Germana 1998 Medium: Original Black marker and colors drawing on paper Signed: Hand Signed Measurements: 6.5" x 8.5" Framed: ...
Category

1990s Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Paper

The Eld of The World
By Roberto Matta
Located in Hollywood, FL
Artist: Roberto Matta Title: The Eld of The World Medium: Color Etching and Carborundum on Handmade Paper Signed: Hand Signed Edition Number: 81/125 Measurements: 47.12" x 40" F...
Category

Early 2000s Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Etching

Sans Titre Drawing on print, hand colored
By Roberto Matta
Located in Hollywood, FL
Artist: Roberto Matta Title: Sans Titre Drawing on Print, Hand Colored Medium: Drawing on Print with Hand Coloring Signed: Hand Signed Measurements: 11.8" x 16.5" Framed: 22.5" x...
Category

1990s Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Mixed Media

Sans Titre Original Mixed Media with Collage
By Roberto Matta
Located in Hollywood, FL
Artist: Roberto Matta Title: Sans Titre Original Mixed Media with Collage Medium: Mixed Media on paper Signed: Hand Signed Measurements: 12" x 17" Framed: 22.5" x 27" Certificate...
Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Mixed Media

Folder Los 5 Destacados. Burumbauzerda
By Roberto Matta
Located in Hollywood, FL
Artist: Roberto Matta Title: Folder Los 5 Destacados Burumbauzerda Medium: Original Etching & Acquatint on Arches Paper Signed: Hand Signed Edition Number: Proof Measurements: 19.75...
Category

1970s Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Aquatint

Sans Titre Original Mixed Media
By Roberto Matta
Located in Hollywood, FL
Artist: Roberto Matta Title: Sans Titre Original Mixed Media Medium: Mixed Media on paper Signed: Hand Signed Measurements: 12" x 17" Framed: 22.5" x 27" Certificate of Authentic...
Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Mixed Media

Ioessa
By Roberto Matta
Located in Hollywood, FL
Artist: Roberto Matta Title: Ioessa Medium: color etching and aquatint Edition Number: 78/100 Year: 1972 Publisher: Atelier Georges Visa, Paris Reference: L'Oeuvre Grave de Matta, e...
Category

1970s Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Etching

Evilliante
By Roberto Matta
Located in Hollywood, FL
Artist: Roberto Matta Title:Evilliante Medium: Etching Carborundum with Collage and hand coloring with pastel on handmade paper Signed: Hand Signed Edition Number: 71/99 Measurem...
Category

1990s Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Etching

Related Items
Surrealist Figurative Aquatint Etching California Modernist Sculptor Artist
By Jack Zajac
Located in Surfside, FL
Jack Zajac, American, born 1929 1964 Etching and aquatint hand printed on Fabriano paper, pencil signed and editioned. Edition Roman Numeral III Image: 12 9/16 x 8 5/8 in. (31.9 x 2...
Category

1960s Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Etching, Aquatint

Surrealist Figurative Aquatint Etching California Modernist Sculptor Artist
By Jack Zajac
Located in Surfside, FL
Jack Zajac, American, born 1929 1964 Etching and aquatint hand printed on Fabriano paper, pencil signed and editioned. Edition Roman Numeral III Image: 12 9/16 x 8 5/8 in. (31.9 x 2...
Category

1960s Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Etching, Aquatint

Surrealist Carborundum Etching, Homage a Rodin
Located in Surfside, FL
This is from a portfolio Hommage A Rodin. It included a lithograph by Henry Moore, Ossip Zadkine, Berto Lardera, an etching by Robert Couturier and an etching...
Category

1960s Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Etching

Surrealist Painting Royal College of Art LGBTQ+ artist Blue Fountain Pink Poodle
By Isabel Rock
Located in Norfolk, GB
Isabel Rock is a creator of contemporary fairy tales. A graduate of the Royal College of Art in London, her work is an explosion of strange occurrences while a surreal narrative takes the audience on a journey into the imagination. In October 2023 Isabel won the Evelyn Williams Drawing Award at the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize. Known as the UK’s most prestigious annual open exhibition for drawing; part of the prize is a solo show at Hastings Contemporary, scheduled for 2024. Whilst Isabel always has a tale to tell for each of her images, you may or may not choose to go on the journey with her or you may indeed have a different story, one of your own that jumps off the page at you and you decide to follow. Artwork Details: Isabel Rock , 'Just another Day in Paradise', mixed media on best archival paper, 85cm x 140cm, unframed, 2022 In Rock's own words, 'It was just another day in Paradise for the Pink Poodle People of the Everlasting Fountain of Eternal Joy. Since every day was Paradise it was just another normal day filled with love, ecstasy and wonder. It started slowly at first, things began to appear in paradise, strange objects that the Pink Poodle People did not know what to do with. Some had sharp edges, others were so and smelt strange, bad strange. Some things glittered and shone. Every day more of these objects would arrive in Paradise. ' If this happens every day then soon Paradise will be full of these strange objects. Some of them are nice but many are bad and smelly. One day there will be no Paradise, only bad, sharp and smelly things.' But the Pink Poodle People did not know what to do with the objects and every day more arrived.' Artwork Provenance: from the Artist Studio A certificate of authentication comes from Gallery Art 1821 photo credits, Isabel working, black and white shots, James Brown About Isabel Rock and her work: Taking inspiration from Japanese woodblock prints and Indian miniature painting Rock has developed a unique collage technique that combines bold structures with large-scale woodblock prints and intricate detailing. The subject is a grand mixture of humour, drama, hidden morals, fanciful characters, modern culture, mythical beings and fantastical situations. Rock creates a world that pulls you in and demands your attention. Quality of line is paramount, the drawings are created using a dipping pen and acrylic ink. An essential tool is a squirrel...
Category

2010s Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Paint, Mixed Media, Archival Paper, Pen

Untitled - Etching by Johnny Friedlaender - 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Untitled is an artwork realized by Johnny Friedlaender , 1970s. Etching on wove paper. Signed and numbered. Edition of 135 copies.
Category

1970s Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Etching

Surrealist Figurative Aquatint Etching California Modernist Sculptor Artist
By Jack Zajac
Located in Surfside, FL
Jack Zajac, American, born 1929 1964 Etching and aquatint hand printed on Fabriano paper, pencil signed and editioned. This one depicts winged angels. Edition Roman Numeral III Ima...
Category

1960s Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Etching, Aquatint

Collage Watercolor Painting David Gilhooly California Funk Surrealism MixedMedia
By David Gilhooly
Located in Surfside, FL
DAVID JAMES GILHOOLY (American, 1943-2013), Mixed media collage 6 x 4 inches, Hand signed and dated verso Napoleon from the back, with King Henry VIII holding a pastry. titled: "England cannot be conquered by a few French pastries" cut and pasted cardstock assemblage, collaged art. David Gilhooly RCA (1943 – 2013), was an American ceramicist, sculptor, painter, printmaker, and professor. He is best known for pioneering the Funk art movement. He made a series of ceramic frogs called FrogWorld, as well as ceramic food, planets, and other creatures. David James Gilhooly III was born on April 15, 1943, in Auburn, California. He was raised in Los Altos, California; Saint Croix in the Virgin Islands; and Humacao, Puerto Rico. He enrolled in University of California, Davis (UC Davis) initially studying biology, followed by anthropology, and ending with a focus on fine art. While attending UC Davis, Gilhooly served as artist Robert Arneson assistant starting in 1963. He graduated from UC Davis with a BA degree in 1965, and an MA degree in 1967. Gilhooly, together with Robert Arneson, Peter Vandenberge, Chris Unterseher, and Margaret Dodd, working together in TB-9 (temporary building 9) were what was later to be called, The Funk Ceramic...
Category

2010s Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Paper, Ink, Watercolor

Surrealist Portrait Drawing by Philadelphia Artist Leon Kelly
By Leon Kelly
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Leon Kelly (American, born France, 1901-1982) Surrealist Portrait Ink on paper, 11 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches; Framed: 21 3/4 x 18 3/4 inches Signed and dated at lower right: "Leon Kelly 19...
Category

1950s Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Paper, Ink

Abstract Erotism - Original Etching Handsigned and Numbered
By Hans Bellmer
Located in Paris, FR
Hans BELLMER Abstract Erotism Original etching, 1973 Handsigned in pencil by the artist Numbered / 20 (Roman numerals) On Auvergne paper, 57 x 38 cm (22,4 x 14,9 inches) From the P...
Category

1970s Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Etching

Unité, Planche 8 (Set of 2) /// Surrealism Modern Art Le Corbusier Abstract
By Le Corbusier
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: Le Corbusier (Charles-Édouard Jeanneret) (Swiss-French, 1887-1965) Title: "Unité, Planche 8" (Set of 2) Portfolio: Unité *Signed by Le Corbusier in pencil lower right. It is ...
Category

1960s Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Etching, Aquatint, Intaglio

Collage Watercolor Painting David Gilhooly California Funk Surrealism MixedMedia
By David Gilhooly
Located in Surfside, FL
DAVID JAMES GILHOOLY (American, 1943-2013), Mixed media collage 6 x 4 inches, Hand signed and dated verso Napoleon from the back, holding a heart. cut and pasted cardstock assemblage, collaged art. David Gilhooly RCA (1943 – 2013), was an American ceramicist, sculptor, painter, printmaker, and professor. He is best known for pioneering the Funk art movement. He made a series of ceramic frogs called FrogWorld, as well as ceramic food, planets, and other creatures. David James Gilhooly III was born on April 15, 1943, in Auburn, California. He was raised in Los Altos, California; Saint Croix in the Virgin Islands; and Humacao, Puerto Rico. He enrolled in University of California, Davis (UC Davis) initially studying biology, followed by anthropology, and ending with a focus on fine art. While attending UC Davis, Gilhooly served as artist Robert Arneson assistant starting in 1963. He graduated from UC Davis with a BA degree in 1965, and an MA degree in 1967. Gilhooly, together with Robert Arneson, Peter Vandenberge, Chris Unterseher, and Margaret Dodd, working together in TB-9 (temporary building 9) were what was later to be called, The Funk Ceramic...
Category

2010s Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Paper, Ink, Watercolor

Abstract Surrealist Botanical
Located in Soquel, CA
Detailed drawing of several flowers and geometric shapes by an unknown artist (20th Century). Signed (illegible) and dated on the right side. Presented in a new double mat (grey, and...
Category

2010s Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Paper, Felt Pen

Abstract Surrealist Botanical
Abstract Surrealist Botanical
H 17 in W 13 in D 0.25 in
Previously Available Items
Evilliante
By Roberto Matta
Located in Hollywood, FL
Artist: Roberto Matta Title:Evilliante Medium: Etching Carborundum with Collage and hand coloring with pastel on handmade paper Signed: Hand Signed Edition Number: 71/99 Measurem...
Category

1990s Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Etching

Les Oh! Tomobiles
By Roberto Matta
Located in Hollywood, FL
Artist: Roberto Matta Title: Les Oh! Tomobiles Medium: Etching with extensive hand coloring Signed: Hand Signed Edition Number: Proof Measurements: 16.5" x 21.25" Framed: 34.25" ...
Category

1970s Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Etching

From Fog, Mog, Images (2)
By Roberto Matta
Located in Hollywood, FL
Artist: Roberto Matta Title: From Fog, Mog, Images Medium: Lithograph Signed: Hand Signed Edition Number: 43/100 Measurements: 19.55" x 25.5" Year: 1971 Note: This piece is sold...
Category

1970s Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Lithograph

From Fog, Mog, Images (1)
By Roberto Matta
Located in Hollywood, FL
Artist: Roberto Matta Title: From Fog, Mog, Images Medium: Lithograph Signed: Hand Signed Edition Number: 43/100 Measurements: 19.55" x 25.5" Year: 1971 Note: This piece is sold UNFR...
Category

1970s Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Lithograph

US Mail US Males
By Roberto Matta
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is an original drawing done with black marker on lined paper. Provenance from the personal collection of Kajsa Westling Nordstamp Fine Art.
Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Permanent Marker

Hommage to Germana (1998)
By Roberto Matta
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is an original drawing done with black and colored markers on lined paper. The piece is dedication to Roberta Matta's wife Germana. The provenance of this drawing is from the ...
Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Permanent Marker

La Dulce Aqua Vita
By Roberto Matta
Located in Hollywood, FL
Artist: Roberto Matta Title: La Dulce Aqua Vita Medium: Carborundum etching on handmade paper Signed: Hand Signed Size: 41 x 48 Inches Edition: 116/125 Year: 2002 Notes: Publisher: ...
Category

Early 2000s Surrealist Roberto Matta Art

Materials

Etching

Roberto Matta art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Roberto Matta art available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of art to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of blue, green, purple and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Roberto Matta in etching, aquatint, lithograph and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the Surrealist style. Not every interior allows for large Roberto Matta art, so small editions measuring 7 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Leonor Fini, André Masson, and Man Ray. Roberto Matta art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $200 and tops out at $127,935, while the average work can sell for $2,400.
Questions About Roberto Matta Art
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Chilean-born Roberto Matta is a modern art painter primarily known for his work in blending surrealism with abstract expressionism. You can shop a selection of expertly vetted Fairfield Porter pieces from some of the world’s top art dealers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Chilean artist Roberto Matta is sometimes referred to simply as “Matta.” One of Chile’s most famous artists, Matta is best known for his contributions to surrealist and expressionist painting during the 20th century. Shop a collection of authentic Roberto Matta pieces from some of the world’s top art dealers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Roberto Matta is a painter who became a noted part of the Surrealist movement. Born Roberto Antonio Sebastian Matta Echaurren in 1922 in Santiago, Chile, the artist began his professional life as an architect and slowly switched to painting. His work often featured complex biomorphic forms in disturbing settings, making him an important influence in the post World War II era. Shop a selection of Roberto Matta pieces from some of the world’s top art dealers on 1stDibs.

Recently Viewed

View All