“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.
$14,032 / item
Roberto Matta Noria limited edition wool carpet, 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
Small Runner by Anni Albers, Limited Edition, Hand-Tufted Wool
By Anni Albers
Located in Jersey City, NJ
Produced in association with the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation. Certificate of Authenticity included. This classic, black and white hand-tufted wool runner by Anni Albers is adap...
Wool
Limited Edition Geometric Rug by George Sowden, "GJS1" Handmade Wool, 2003
By George Sowden
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
This striking & elegant carpet is from a Limited Edition of 36 units (ours is Edition # 5 of 36, hand signed by the artist/designer George J Sowden, one of the original MEMPHIS m...
Wool
$1,450 / item
W 57 in L 69 in
The Many Faces of Red by Josef Albers Limited Edition Rug, Hand-Tufted Wool
By Josef Albers
Located in Jersey City, NJ
100% hand-tufted wool rug adapted from a print from The Interaction of Color (1963) 4'9"× 5'9" (1.5 × 1.8m) printed tag showing edition detai...
Wool
$60,799Sale Price|29% Off
W 116 in L 214 in
Vintage Rya Handmade Carpet, Multicolor Wool Carpet-Colorful, Vibrant, White
Located in Port Washington, NY
Rya rugs are the traditional Scandinavian rugs made in Sweden and Finland, and word “Rya” actually means Rug. The vintage Scandinavian Rya rugs that were made in Sweden have extremel...
Wool
Ruhlmann Circular Knotted Wool Carpet
By Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann
Located in Berlin, DE
Circular knotted wool carpet decorated with stylized flowers. Ref. 3003. Provenance: C. John, The Finest Rugs, Carpets and Tapestry, London, August 2021 Crosta Smith Gallery, London...
Wool
Ritva Puolita Gilde Muster edition, abstract pure wool carpet ca 1965
Located in Antwerp, BE
Scandinavian design rug, pure woven new wool, by Finnish artist RITVA PUOLITA. Edition GILDE MUSTER, circa 1965 (label on the back). Dimensions: 300cm x 200cm In perfect condition. ...
Wool
Runner 1922 Limited Edition Rug by Gunta Stölzl, Hand-Knotted Hand-Spun Wool
By Gunta Stölzl
Located in Jersey City, NJ
2'7" x 10'6" (0.8 x 3.2m) Hand-knotted, hand-spun Ghazni Wool Limited Edition Please allow 1-2 weeks for delivery. From textile artist and Bauhausler, Gunta Stölzl, the first eve...
Wool
Durrie wool carpet "31 Oct" Cecilia Setterdahl for Carpets CC
By Carpets CC
Located in Dubai, Dubai
Carpet Name: "Sisters" The ' Sisters' carpet takes inspiration from all the strong women that make their voices heard during 2018. The faces are made in strict graphic form, with...
Wool
Geneviève Claisse Design No.76 - Artistic Wool Rug - Limited Edition
By Geneviève Claisse, Boccara
Located in New York, NY
-Limited edition artistic wool rug after Genevie`ve Claisse -Design No.76 -Dimensions: 300 x 300 cm; 118.1 x 118.1 in -Manufactured by Boccara
Wool
Limited Edition Abstract Wool Rug by Moscovino, No. 58/250
Located in Milano, IT
This limited-edition rug by Moscovino, numbered 58 of 250, is a striking example of late 20th-century graphic textile design. Woven entirely from 100% pure wool, the composition feat...
Wool
$18,000 / item
W 118.12 in L 118.12 in
Limited Edition by A$AP Rocky GUFRAM X HOMMEMADE Skyline Carpet
By A$AP Rocky, Gufram Furniture
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
Gufram presents a bold partnership with HOMMEMADE by A$AP Rocky: SKYLINE CARPET. This innovative and evocative project reimagines the traditional carpet and relaxation space, drawing...
Other
$35,000
W 157.48 in L 157.48 in
Albert Gleizes, Design No.36 - Artistic Wool Rug Size L - Limited Edition
By Boccara
Located in New York, NY
- Rug after Albert Gleizes (France, 1881-1953) - Octogonal composition, 1924 - Gouache; 21 x 16.5 cm - Measures: 400 x 400 cm; 157.5 x 157.5 in - Signed and dated on the right: Alber...
Wool
$4,708Sale Price|20% Off
W 78.75 in L 106.3 in
Rug stripe Wool Carpet Hand Knotted limited yellow black White Modern Geometric
By Cecilia Setterdahl
Located in Dubai, Dubai
This limited-edition hand-knotted carpet is titled WINGS. It is meant to up-lift the mood with its bright yellow and black and white stripes. The design was inspired though Cecilia p...
Wool
$1,450 / item
W 69 in L 69 in
Homage Preparedness by Josef Albers Limited Edition Hand-Tufted Wool Rug
By Josef Albers
Located in Jersey City, NJ
100% wool rug hand-dyed and hand-tufted 5'9" x 5'9" (1.75 meters x 1.75 meters) printed tag showing edition details and signature edition of 250 Produced in association with the Jos...
Wool
Plate 111 Limited Edition Rug by Gunta Stölzl, Hand-Tufted Millspun Wool
By Gunta Stölzl
Located in Jersey City, NJ
5'7" x 8'10" (1.7 x 2.69m) Hand-tufted millspun wool Limited Edition Ships from the UK. Please allow 1-2 weeks for delivery. This work by Gunta Stölzl was originally created on pape...
Wool