Roberto Sebastian Matta

Matta was of Spanish, Basque and French descent.[1] Born in Santiago, he studied architecture and interior design at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile in Santiago, and graduated in 1935. That spring, he journeyed from Peru to Panama and completed surreal drawings of many of the geographical features he witnessed. He first encountered Europe while serving in the Merchant Marine after graduating.[2] His travels in Europe and the USA led him to meet artists such as Arshile Gorky, René Magritte, Salvador Dalí, André Breton, and Le Corbusier.

Roberto Matta, Three Figures, 1958c, M.T. Abraham Foundation.

Roberto Sebastian Matta 1911–2002 Untitled (from the Centre noeuds portfolio) 1974 etching and aquatint in colors on Arches image: 14 h × 10½ w in (36 × 27 cm) sheet: 24 h × 17½ w in (61 × 44 cm)

It was Breton who provided the major spur to the Chilean's direction in art, encouraging his work and introducing him to the leading members of the Paris Surrealist movement. Matta produced illustrations and articles for Surrealist journals such as Minotaure. During this period he was introduced to the work of many prominent contemporary European artists, such as Pablo Picasso and Marcel Duchamp.

Roberto Sebastian Matta 1911–2002 Plate 3 (from the Centre noeuds portfolio) 1974 etching and aquatint in colors image: 14 h × 10½ w in (36 × 27 cm) sheet: 23⅞ h × 17½ w in (61 × 44 cm)

Roberto Matta

1911 - 2002

Seraphin Gallery, Philadelphia, PA