Roberto Matta Chili, 1911-2002

Roberto Matta, born Roberto Sebastián Antonio Matta Echaurren on November 11, 1911, in Santiago, Chile, and passed away on November 23, 2002, in Civitavecchia, Italy, was a Chilean painter and sculptor who played a key role in the Surrealist movement. A graduate in architecture from the Catholic University of Santiago, Matta quickly turned to art and left Chile for Europe in 1933. In Paris, Matta worked in Le Corbusier's studio and was introduced to Surrealism through encounters with artists such as Salvador Dalí and André Breton. His early works, characterized by psychological landscapes and fluid organic forms, quickly garnered attention. Matta explored complex themes related to the human psyche, science, and nature, using innovative techniques like automatism to unleash his creative subconscious. Over the years, Matta developed a unique style, incorporating elements of architecture, science fiction, and philosophy. His works, often vast and dynamic, are populated by biomorphic forms and geometric structures that evoke strange and imaginary worlds. Matta's works have been exhibited in numerous prestigious galleries and museums worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Tate Modern in London. He also influenced many artists of the Abstract Expressionism movement, including Arshile Gorky and Robert Motherwell. Roberto Matta left a significant artistic legacy, marked by his bold exploration of the invisible dimensions of reality and imagination. He remains an iconic figure of Surrealist art and 20th-century modern art.