20th Century Latino Artists: Visual Art Reflecting American Culture from the Latino and Latin American Perspective

Roberto Matta

Roberto Matta, or known as simply just, "Matta", this Chilean-born artist is known as one of the great Surrealists. Born in Santiago, Chile on November 11, 1911, Matta was raised in his native country as an architect and an interior designer. He graduated from the Catholic University of Santiago in 1931 with a degree in Architecture. From there he moved to Paris to work for the famous modern architect, Le Corbusier. Through the next few years, Matta would travel and meet Salvador Dali (among many other famous artists) who encouraged him to show his drawings. He would officially join the surrealist movement in 1937.

​Continuing on (and becoming famous for) his exploration of the landscape of the subconscious mind, Matta focused on the "spiritual affect of the machinations of war" and used symbolic and/or abstract forms which would eventually influence the development of Abstract Expressionism. Throughout the last half of his life, Matta would come to be expelled from the surrealists and continue different forms of art involving political and spiritual intentions in Rome, Paris, London, and Cuba. He did not like to be thought of as a "Latin American" artist.
By Deanna Gee

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