“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.
Roberto Matta Amatta resin armchair, limited Edition Paradisoterrestre
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
Roberto Matta Alidor resin armchair, limited edition, Italy, 1974
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
$4,650Sale Price|25% Off
1970s MAgriTTA Chair Roberto Matta for Simon Gavina Editions, Italy, 1970
By Simon Gavina Editions, Roberto Matta
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 Margarita Bronze Armchair Paradisoterrestre Limited 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 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
Roberto Matta Margarita Bronze Armchair Paradisoterrestre Limited 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 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
Roberto Matta Sacco Alato Aluminium Armchair Paradisoterrestre limited 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
Roberto Matta Margarita Aluminium Armchair Paradisoterrestre Limited 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
$5,809 / set
H 41.74 in W 18.12 in D 18.12 in
Italian red lacquered wood Kazuki chairs by Kazuhide Takahama, Simon Gavina 1969
By Kazuhide Takahama, Simon Gavina Editions
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian red lacquered wood Kazuki chairs by Kazuhide Takahama, Simon Gavina 1969. Set of four Kazuki model chairs with structure entirely in orange-red lacquered wood, with geometric...
Wood
$1,011 / item
H 44.1 in W 16.54 in D 16.54 in
Black laquered and leather chair “Kazuki” by K. Takahama for Simon Gavina 70's
By Simon Gavina Editions, Kazuhide Takahama
Located in Padova, IT
Kazuhide Takahama - Nobeoka 1930 - Bologna 2010 - was a Japanese architect and designer. Takahama, born in 1930, he studied architecture in Tokyo and after graduating he joined the ...
Leather, Wood
$7,844 / set
H 28.75 in W 18.12 in D 17.92 in
Set 8 Stackable Chairs in Chromed & Ecru Bouclé By K. Takahama for Simon Gavina
By Kazuhide Takahama, Simon Gavina Editions
Located in Roma, IT
I am offering for sale a set consisting of 8 "TULU" chairs, designed in the late 60s by the Japanese designer Kazhide Takahama for the historic company Simon Gavina. The "TULU" chair...
Chrome
Limited Edition Salvador Dali Armchair, "Invisible Personage"
By BD Barcelona Design, Salvador Dalí
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Indulge in a rare opportunity to own a piece of art history with this Limited Edition Salvador Dali Armchair, featuring the artist's iconic "Invisible Personage" design. One of only ...
Sheepskin, Upholstery, Lacquer
$2,728 / set
H 28.75 in W 17.72 in D 16.93 in
Mid-Century set of "Tulu" Chairs by Kazhuide Takahama for Simon Gavina, Italy '68
By Simon Gavina Editions, Kazuhide Takahama
Located in Sacile, PN
Set of four "Tulu" chairs by Kazuhide Takahama for Gavina Studio Simon, 1968. This set is for the first series because is without the crossbar on the front of the seat. New foa...
Metal, Chrome
Mw02 "Pop" limited edition armchair, by MW DESIGNER FURNITURE
By Olivier Santini
Located in Beaumont-Louestault, FR
POP – A 70s Design Icon The POP armchair is a limited edition piece with only 10 units available, blending bold retro design with cutting-edge modernity. Designed by Olivier Santini...
Stainless Steel, Other
Tiger Art Gaulino Limited Edition Armchair by Oscar Tusquets
By Oscar Tusquets Blanca, BD Art Editions
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Tiger Art Gaulino Limited Edition Armchair by Oscar Tusquets Chair in ash wood with dark stained and varnished patina and a natural leather seat. Se...
Wood
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
Limited Edition Bo Armchair by Giacomo Tomazzi Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Limited Edition Bo Armchair by Giacomo Tomazzi Studio Dimensions: W 97 x D 95 x H 75 cm Materials: Stainless steel tube, natural carnauba fiber, pineapple leather and solid wood sphe...
Stainless Steel
$6,821Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 44.1 in W 23.63 in D 9.85 in
Set of 8 chairs mod. Rennie by Kazuhide Takahama for Simon Gavina, 1970
By Simon Gavina Editions, Kazuhide Takahama
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Stunning set composed by 8 chairs designed by Kazuhide Takahama and produced for Simon Gavina. Solid wood structure with original leather cover and seat. Perfect vintage condition P...
Leather, Wood
$271Sale Price|66% Off
H 29.14 in W 20.87 in D 19.69 in
Vintage 1970s chair model "Jano" design K. Takahama for Simon Gavina
By Kazuhide Takahama, Simon Gavina Editions
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Chair with chrome metal frame and blue velvet upholstery, model "Jano" design Kazuhide Takahama for Simon Gavina, 1970s. CONDITION: In good condition, may show signs of wear given b...
Metal
Tomasa Chair from Simon Gavina
By Gavina, Simon Gavina Editions
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Considered an homage to Paolo Uccello, a 15th century painter and mathematician, and manufactured by Simon Gavina in Italy, the Tomasa chair is a simple a...
Wood, Oak
$1,250
H 26.38 in W 29.14 in D 24.41 in
Italian Modern Yellow Armchair Mod, Saghi by Kazuhide Takahama for Gavina, 1970s
By Kazuhide Takahama, Gavina
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern yellow armchair mod. Saghi by Kazuhide Takahama for Gavina, 1970s Iconic and elegant armchair mod. Saghi with steel rod structur...
Steel
$1,194 / set
H 33.47 in W 21.66 in D 18.51 in
Kazuhide Takahama for Simon Gavina Set of Three Chairs, Italy, 1970s
By Kazuhide Takahama, Studio Simon
Located in Naples, IT
Beautiful and rare set of 3 chairs designed by Kazuhide Takahama for Simon Gavina, Italy 1970s, in metallic grey velvet and steel frame, with velvet arm covers. The chairs are in goo...
Metal
$13,074 / item
H 24.81 in W 38.98 in D 28.75 in
LC3 “Grand Confort, Durable, 60” Limited Edition Blue Armchair by Cassina
By Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand Cassina, Cassina, Pierre Jeanneret, Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Cassina LC3 “3 Fauteuil Grand Confort, Grand Modèle, Durable, 60” Limited Edition Armchair by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret & Charlotte Perriand Created to celebrate the 60th anniv...
Metal