“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 Hom'mère - N'où's folder with 20 etchings, 1985
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
Roberto Matta El Verbo America folder with 6 color lithographs, 1987
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
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
Roberto Matta Musik-Foot artist’s book with 8 lithographs, 1990
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
Roberto Matta Qui d'Eux folder with 10 color lithographs, 1990
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
Roberto Matta Don Qui folder with 15 color + 10 black and white lithographs 1985
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
Roberto Matta Le Verbo Hommérica folder with 6 signed and numbered etchings 1987
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
1970s "Fanfare" Screenprint by Frank Rowland
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A striking limited edition op art serigraph by American artist Frank Rowland (1927-2012) in the hard edge style. An abstract geometric composition in red, orange, and yellow against ...
Paper
Vibrant Color Lithograph after Henri Matisse
By Henri Matisse
Located in Atlanta, GA
Vibrant color lithograph after Henri Matisse, circa 1950s. Signed, dated 1951, and titled, all within the lithograph. It has been framed in a simple, clean lined black lacquer wooden...
Glass, Wood, Paper
Selection of Marc Chagall Color Lithographs
By Marc Chagall
Located in Atlanta, GA
Selection of color lithographs by Marc Chagall, France, 1950s. These are vintage original color lithographs, and have recently been professionally framed in vintage gilt wood frames ...
Glass, Wood, Paper
$1,715
H 17.33 in W 22.45 in D 1.19 in
Masao Ido Myōman-ji temple garden, 1990 — rare Artist’s Proof (AP)
Located in Weesp, NL
Importing Art into the United States is exempt from all U.S. tariffs but please, do check! Masao Ido (1945–2016) — Myōman-ji temple garden, 1990 — rare Artist’s Proof (AP), signed l...
Glass, Wood, Paper
$1,641
H 26.78 in W 18.12 in D 0.01 in
Antique Greek Hydria with Classical Warriors Color Lithograph, 1883
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique Greek Hydria with Classical Figures Color Lithograph, 1883 Original antique color lithograph depicting a monumental ancient Greek hydria decorated with classical figures and...
Paper
$1,245
H 25.5 in W 23 in D 1.5 in
Alberto Giacometti Framed Black and White Limited Lithograph "Annette", 1964
By Alberto Giacometti
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful sketched lithograph by famed Swiss artists/sculptor Alberto Giacometti. The lithograph was printed in Paris by Mourlot Freres in 1964 and was issued in an edition of ...
Paper
$1,594
H 26.78 in W 18.12 in D 0.01 in
Antique Greek Amphora with Classical Figures Color Lithograph, 1883
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique Greek Amphora with Classical Figures Color Lithograph, 1883 Original antique color lithograph depicting an elaborately decorated ancient Greek amphora with a dynamic classic...
Paper
$946
H 13.75 in W 12 in D 1 in
A color lithograph depicting a horse head, United States of America 1950.
Located in Milan, IT
A color lithograph, depicting a horse head. Signed C. W. Anderson. Solid cherry wood (Prunus Avium, Linnaeus 1755), frame, polished and beeswaxed. United States circa 1950.
Wood, Paper
$2,000
H 34.5 in W 43.5 in D 1.25 in
Artist's Proof Lithograph entitled "Birds in Flight" by Alexander Calder
By Alexander Calder
Located in San Diego, CA
Alexander Calder signed "Birds in Flight" artist's proof lithograph, circa 1974. This elegant print by Calder exemplifies the master's poetic exploration of motion, line and balance....
Metal
Josef Albers "Formulation : Articulation" Portfolio II, Folder 25
By Josef Albers
Located in Chicago, IL
JOSEF ALBERS (1888 – 1976) "Formulation : Articulation" Portfolio II, Folder 25 Screen-printed geometric composition printed by Ives Stillman, Inc., New Haven, CT. From the set of 12...
Paper
1970s Framed Lithograph By American Artist Kay Jackson.
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage 1970s Framed Lithograph By American Artist Kay Jackson. Features an abstract painting in rich earth tones, framed with the original solid wood fram...
Paper, Wood
$1,596
H 26.78 in W 18.12 in D 0.01 in
Antique Greek Amphora with Warrior & Horse Color Lithograph, 1883
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique Greek Amphora with Warrior & Horse Color Lithograph, 1883 Original antique color lithograph depicting an ancient Greek amphora decorated with a dynamic equestrian warrio...
Paper
Sold
H 22.5 in W 29.75 in D 0.07 in
Vintage Roberto Matta Abstract Signed Surrealist Lithograph Print Artist Proof
By Roberto Matta
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage pencil signed lithograph print by Roberto Matta, showing surrealist style figures in car-like vehicles below Greek / Roman style soldie...
Paper