“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.
Malitte Seating System by Roberto Matta Paradisoterrestre Edition
By Paradisoterrestre, Roberto Matta
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
Designed in 1966 - Paradisoterrestre Edition 2019 Materials: polyurethane foam; slightly elastic fabric Pugi RG. Upholstery available in different fabrics and colours. Please note ...
Fabric, Foam
Sacco Alato Bronze Armchair by Roberto Matta Paradisoterrestre Edition
By Roberto Matta, Paradisoterrestre
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
Designed in 1971 - Paradisoterrestre Edition 2019 This “functional work of art” represents in an exemplary way the concept of Ultramobile, operation conceived by Dino Gavina in 1971 with the aim of adapting in a surprising way the surrealist object to daily use. Sacco Alato was born in foundry while making Margarita, casting a bag of concrete and splitting it in two. Lacking any other props, the big road rocks provided the feet for this seat/sculpture. Almost 50 years after the first prototypes and the very few works produced by Simon International, the re-edition of Sacco Alato in the historical...
Bronze
Malitte Outdoor Seating System by Roberto Matta Paradisoterrestre Edition
By Paradisoterrestre, Roberto Matta
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
Designed in 1966 - Paradisoterrestre Edition 2019 The outdoor version of Malitte by Surrealist artist Roberto Matta. Materials: polyurethane for outdoor use, Ginostra fabric by MARI...
Fabric, Foam
Margarita Bronze Armchair by Roberto Matta Paradisoterrestre Edition
By Roberto Matta, Paradisoterrestre
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
Designed in 1971 - Paradisoterrestre Edition 2019 This “functional work of art” represents in an exemplary way the concept of Ultramobile, operation conceived by Dino Gavina in 1971 with the aim of adapting in a surprising way the surrealist object to daily use. Margarita was cast in bronze the first time to fix an idea: it is a petrol can, opened up like a daisy, a barrel turned into a tribal throne. Almost 50 years after the first prototypes and the very few works produced by Simon International, the re-edition of Margarita in the historical bronze...
Bronze
Hom'mère - N'où's folder with 20 etchings by Roberto Matta
By Roberto Matta
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
Hom’mère – N’où’s by Roberto Matta is a folder with 10 etchings on Arches paper + 10 etchings on Japòn paper Edition: 100 signed and numbered copies from 1 to 100 + XXV H.C. Sista...
Paper
$4,650Sale Price|25% Off
1970s MAgriTTA Chair Roberto Matta for Simon Gavina Editions, Italy, 1970
By Roberto Matta, Simon Gavina Editions
Located in Camden, ME
"Roberto Matta designed this chair as a tribute to his friend and fellow surrealist painter René Magritte. The apple and black bowler hat are derived from Magritte's 1946 self-portra...
Foam, Polyester
Roberto Matta for Gavina “Malitte” Modular Seating System
By Gavina, Roberto Matta
Located in Pawtucket, RI
Included in the permanent collection of MoMA, the Museum of Modern Art in New York City: "Malitte is a seating system, an ever-changing composition of f...
Textile, Foam
Roberto Matta "Look At The Heart Of The World" Circa 1965 Etching 2/50
By Roberto Matta
Located in Atlanta, GA
Roberto Matta (Chilean, 1911–2002) Look At The Heart Of The World (Vois Au Coeur Du Monde), circa 1965 Etching with aquatint, with hand-applied color accents, the composition present...
Paper
Sacco Alato Aluminium Armchair by Roberto Matta Paradisoterrestre Edition
By Roberto Matta, Paradisoterrestre
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
Designed in 1971 - Paradisoterrestre Edition 2019 This “functional work of art” represents in an exemplary way the concept of Ultramobile, operation conceived by Dino Gavina in 1971...
Aluminum
Alidor resin armchair by Roberto Matta
By Roberto Matta
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
Between art and design, the Alidor armchair by Surrealist artist Roberto Matta has a resin structure and a biomorphic cushion. Limited edition 25/1000 with engraved number and artis...
Resin
Roberto Matta, Aquatint, 1970s "Come detta dentro vo significado" No35
By Roberto Matta
Located in Stockholm, SE
Robero Matta ( Chille 1911-2002), aquatint VI/VI no 35 from "Come detta dentro vo significado". Signed Matta. Framed. in good condition. Paper with smaller signs of age and wear.
Paper
Margarita Aluminium Armchair by Roberto Matta Paradisoterrestre Edition
By Paradisoterrestre, Roberto Matta
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
Designed in 1971 - Paradisoterrestre Edition 2019 This “functional work of art” represents in an exemplary way the concept of Ultramobile, operation conceived by Dino Gavina in 1971...
Aluminum
Floricor by Roberto Matta
By Roberto Matta
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
Floricor by Roberto Matta is a ceramic bas-relief created at Bottega Gatti (Faenza, IT) in 1995 in a limited edition of 150 Arabic numbers + 40 Roman numerals. Roberto Matta tries t...
Ceramic
Don Qui folder with 15 color + 10 black and white lithographs by Roberto Matta
By Roberto Matta
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
Don Qui by Roberto Matta is a folder with 15 color + 10 black and white lithographs Edition: 100 copies Sistan, Lugano; 1985 In the text that accompanies the Don Qui lithographs...
Paper
Malitte Outdoor Seating System by Roberto Matta Paradisoterrestre Edition
By Paradisoterrestre, Roberto Matta
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
Designed in 1966 - Paradisoterrestre Edition 2019 The outdoor version of Malitte by Surrealist artist Roberto Matta. Materials: polyurethane for outdoor use, Quercia fabric by MARIA...
Fabric, Foam
Amatta armchair by Roberto Matta Paradisoterrestre Edition 2024
By Paradisoterrestre, Roberto Matta
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
Amatta is a resin armchair with sinuous, fluid, soft and rounded lines, created in 1974 by Roberto Matta. He cuddled up in the Amatta and shaped it through his own body. The armcha...
Resin
Etre Cri by Roberto Matta
By Roberto Matta
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
Etre Cri by Roberto Matta is a ceramic piece created at Bottega Gatti on the occasion of the exhibition “C’Era Mica Matta” at Palazzo delle Esposizioni, Faenza (IT) in 1992 in a limi...
Ceramic
Roberto Matta for Arredoluce Adjustable Ceiling Fixture in Brass, Italy, 1950
By Roberto Matta
Located in New York, NY
Classic Arredoluce ceiling fixture in brass and lacquered aluminum, it can be adjusted up or down with a tensioning mechanism. 2 are available, price is for 1.
Aluminum, Brass
Malitte Seating System by Roberto Matta Paradisoterrestre Edition
By Roberto Matta, Paradisoterrestre
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
Designed in 1966 - Paradisoterrestre Edition 2019 Materials: polyurethane foam; slightly elastic fabric Kvadrat Divina 3 Upholstery available in different fabrics and colours. Plea...
Fabric, Foam
Noria carpet designed by Roberto Matta, limited edition, 1984
By Roberto Matta
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
Noria carpet designed by Roberto Matta and realized in a limited edition for Artcurial in 1984. Two pieces available (AP 9/14 and 10/14). Pure new wool pile. Bibliography Germana M...
Wool
Originil vase by Roberto Matta
By Roberto Matta
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
Originil by Roberto Matta is a vase created at Bottega Gatti on the occasion of the exhibition “C’Era Mica Matta” at Palazzo delle Esposizioni, Faenza (IT) in 1992 in a limited editi...
Ceramic
Qui d'Eux folder with 10 color lithographs and a text by Roberto Matta
By Roberto Matta
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
Qui d’Eux by Roberto Matta is a folder with 10 color lithographs on Vélin d’Arches 270 gr paper and a text by Matta Edition: 100 signed and numbered copies from 1 to 100 + XV copies...
Paper
El Verbo America folder with 6 color lithographs by Roberto Matta
By Roberto Matta
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
El Verbo America by Roberto Matta is a folder with 6 color lithographs on Arches paper Edition: 100 copies from 1 to 100 + XXV H.C. La Bezuga, Florence; 1987 “Seeing the Word that...
Paper
$2,842
El Zuni by Roberto Matta
By Roberto Matta
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
El Zuni by Roberto Matta is a ceramic plate created at Bottega Gatti (Faenza, IT) in 1995 in a limited edition of 120 pieces. Roberto Matta tries to get to the origin of things with...
Ceramic
Homosmusa ceramic vase by Roberto Matta
By Roberto Matta
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
Homosmusa by Roberto Matta is a vase created at Bottega Gatti on the occasion of the exhibition “C’Era Mica Matta” at Palazzo delle Esposizioni, Faenza (IT) in 1992 in a limited edit...
Ceramic
Le Verbo Hommérica folder with 6 signed and numbered etchings by Roberto Matta
By Roberto Matta
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
Le Verbo Hommérica by Roberto Matta is a folder with 6 signed and numbered etchings on Japon nacré paper Edition: 100 copies numbered from 1 to 100 + 35 HC numbered I-XXV L’Inédite...
Paper
Musik-Foot artist’s book with 8 lithographs by Roberto Matta
By Roberto Matta
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
Musik-Foot by Roberto Matta is an artist’s book with 8 lithographs. Edition: 100 + XXV La Bezuga, Florence; 1990 Artist’s book with hard cover and collage. Printed entirely on han...
Paper
L'origine è adesso vase by Roberto Matta
By Roberto Matta
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
L’origine è adesso by Roberto Matta is a vase created at Bottega Gatti on the occasion of the exhibition “C’Era Mica Matta” at Palazzo delle Esposizioni, Faenza (IT) in 1992 in a lim...
Ceramic
Roberto Matta for Gavina, Modular Sofa, 1966
By Roberto Matta
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Roberto Matta, signed. Gavina, edited by. Modular sofa, “Malitte” model, composed of five seats in thermoformed foam, cut out and covered with black and white woolen cloth. G...
Fabric
Farfallacqua by Roberto Matta
By Roberto Matta
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
Farfallacqua by Roberto Matta is an umbrella stand created at Bottega Gatti on the occasion of the exhibition “C’Era Mica Matta” at Palazzo delle Esposizioni, Faenza (IT) in 1992 in ...
Ceramic
Innaffiare il linguaggio vase by Roberto Matta
By Roberto Matta
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
Innaffiare il linguaggio by Roberto Matta is a bowl created at Bottega Gatti on the occasion of the exhibition “C’Era Mica Matta” at Palazzo delle Esposizioni, Faenza (IT) in 1992 in...
Ceramic