Born in Santiago, Chile, Matta began studying architecture before moving to France in 1933, working with Le Corbusier and meeting influential artists and poets such as Lorca and Alberti. Introduced to the Surrealist movement by André Breton in Paris, he developed the "Psychological Morphologies," an experimental series using color to automatically guide the brush.
Fleeing the war, he settled in New York, where he exhibited and collaborated with artists such as Marcel Duchamp and Jackson Pollock. Influenced by physics and science, he created innovative works incorporating phosphorescent pigments and concepts of the fourth dimension.
Back in Europe, he participated in numerous reviews and publications, founding the reviewInstead, and creates large canvases addressing political and social themes. His monumental works cover walls and ceilings, and he takes part in international artistic events.
Matta obtained French citizenship in 1979 and received numerous awards, including the Praemium Imperiale. He leaves a lasting artistic legacy through his child artists and his major contributions to surrealism and contemporary art.
