Curated by Norman Rosenthal, Dawn Ades, and Elisabetta Barisoni, in collaboration with Archivio Matta, Ca’ Pesaro – International Gallery of Modern Art presents the exhibition “Roberto Matta 1911-2002” from October 25, 2024 to March 23, 2025.
Roberto Sebastián Antonio Matta Echaurren (Santiago de Chile, 1911 – Civitavecchia, 2002) is celebrated as one of the most significant artists of the 20th century, yet his work remains underappreciated. Known for his belief that “Painting always has one foot in architecture, one foot in the dream”, Matta’s art spans a wide array of materials including clay, wood, and metal, beyond his renowned paintings and drawings.
Matta’s journey began with architectural studies in Chile, later working with Le Corbusier in Paris, which he often referenced in his artistic identity. His projects, such as a house constructed from Fiat 500 bodies, reflect his architectural ingenuity. Matta’s art explores diverse realms of scientific, cultural, and philosophical ideas, often interwoven with his staunch political views advocating for democratic and humanitarian rights.
The exhibition at Ca’ Pesaro showcases his adherence to Surrealism and his distinctive visual language developed through automatism. Matta, along with his friend Gordon Onslow-Ford, revitalized Surrealism before World War II, earning André Breton’s admiration. In the 1940s, Matta significantly influenced American abstract expressionists, transcending the debate between abstraction and figuration—a relevance that persists today.
This exhibition, following a significant 2012-2013 show in Hamburg and the 1985 retrospective at the Center Pompidou, explores Matta’s multifaceted creativity. It spans themes from architecture to science, literature to linguistics, politics to mathematics, and humor to eroticism, offering a comprehensive look at his profound artistic legacy.
Website: www.visitmuve.it
Location: Ca’ Pesaro Gallery, Venice
Schedule: Oct. 25, 2024 – March 23, 2025
