Portrait of Roberto Matta

The 20 Most Famous Roberto Matta Paintings, a Gallery Selection

Updated October 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 21 works by Roberto Matta in our catalogue

In short

Of all the originals Roberto Matta left, the most famous is Being With (Être Avec) (1946), in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Close behind it come Untitled (1959) and The Disasters of Mysticism (1942). Our catalog holds 21 works by Roberto Matta; the gallery has kept the 20 the world admires most, each shown with its date, its museum and its story.

1911 – 2002, Santiago Surrealism Most works: Israel Museum
Being With (Être Avec) (1946) by Roberto Matta1. Being With (Être Avec) 1946 Untitled (1959) by Roberto Matta2. Untitled 1959 The Disasters of Mysticism (1942) by Roberto Matta3. The Disasters of Mysticism 1942

Roberto Matta's top 10 paintings: the gallery's choice

1
Being With (Être Avec) (1946) by Roberto Matta

Being With (Être Avec)

1946 · Acrylic On Canvas · Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Roberto Matta's "Being With" (1946) isn’t merely a painting; it’s an immersion into the fractured, dreamlike landscape of the subconscious. Painted during his formative years in New York City – a period deeply influenced by the anxieties and transformations following World War II – this monumental canvas pulsates with a potent blend of Surrealist imagery, architectural distortion, and unsettling human forms. Matta, a Chilean artist who navigated the currents of…

About this original
6
Les Oh! Tomobiles (1972) by Roberto Matta

Les Oh! Tomobiles

1972 · Etching · Inter-American Development Bank, Washington, D.C.

Roberto Matta’s "Les Oh! Tomobiles" immediately plunges the viewer into a dreamscape of mechanical whimsy and collective motion. This arresting black and white etching is not merely a depiction of objects in transit; it is a visual symphony capturing the restless energy of the mid-20th century, filtered through the profound lens of Surrealism. The composition itself feels like a captured moment from a feverish parade—a collision between the grounded reality…

About this original

The Roberto Matta selection continues, 11 to 20

11I Walk (1947) by Roberto MattaI Walk1947 · Israel Museum 12The Onyx of Electra (1944) by Roberto MattaThe Onyx of Electra1944 13My Blind (1946) by Roberto MattaMy Blind1946 14Inscape (1949) by Roberto MattaInscape1949 · Israel Museum 15The Spherical Roof Around our Tribe (Revolvers) (1952) by Roberto MattaThe Spherical Roof Around our Tribe (Revolvers)1952 16Glittering the Being (1955) by Roberto MattaGlittering the Being1955 · Art Institute of Chicago 17The Sphinx of DNA (1996) by Roberto MattaThe Sphinx of DNA1996 · Israel Museum 18Senza titolo (2009) by Roberto MattaSenza titolo2009 · Fondazione Hospice Seràgnoli Onlus 19Verbo América (1997) by Roberto MattaVerbo América1997 · Inter-American Development Bank 20Untitled (1949) by Roberto MattaUntitled1949

The subjects that held Roberto Matta's eye

The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.

Dreamlike 2 works

Les Oh! Tomobiles (1972), Roberto Matta #6 Les Oh! Tomobiles 1972 · Inter-American Development Bank Snail's Trace (1937), Roberto Matta #8 Snail's Trace 1937

Abstract 2 works

Verbo América (1997), Roberto Matta #19 Verbo América 1997 · Inter-American Development Bank Snail's Trace (1937), Roberto Matta #8 Snail's Trace 1937

The museums that keep Roberto Matta's originals

The 6 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.

Museum City Works by Roberto Matta Paintings from this list
Israel Museum, JerusalemIsrael Museum Jerusalem 5 Untitled, Writing One's Cry (Ecrire son cri), I Walk
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkMetropolitan Museum of Art New York 2 Being With (Être Avec), Being With (Être Avec)
Inter-American Development Bank, Washington, D.C.Inter-American Development Bank Washington, D.C. 2 Les Oh! Tomobiles, Verbo América
Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, MadridMuseo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía Madrid 1 Munda y desnuda, la libertad contra la opresión (Worldly and Nude, Freedom Against Oppression)
Art Institute of Chicago, ChicagoArt Institute of Chicago Chicago 1 Glittering the Being
Fondazione Hospice Seràgnoli Onlus, BolognaFondazione Hospice Seràgnoli Onlus Bologna 1 Senza titolo

Roberto Matta decade by decade: the original that defines each

Works per decade

Pick a decade to see the original that defines it.

Collectors' questions about Roberto Matta's paintings

Which work is Roberto Matta most famous for?Reveal the answer

Being With (Être Avec) (1946), Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Untitled (1959) and The Disasters of Mysticism (1942) come next.

What age was Roberto Matta when Being With (Être Avec) was made?Reveal the answer

35 years old: Being With (Être Avec) dates from 1946, and Roberto Matta was born in 1911.

What are the ten most famous Roberto Matta paintings?Reveal the answer

Being With (Être Avec), Untitled, The Disasters of Mysticism, Writing One's Cry (Ecrire son cri), Munda y desnuda, la libertad contra la opresión (Worldly and Nude, Freedom Against Oppression), Les Oh! Tomobiles, Being With (Être Avec), Snail's Trace, Composition and The Composition with Green Tones. The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.

How many paintings did Roberto Matta leave?Reveal the answer

Our catalog holds 21 works by Roberto Matta, dated from 1937 to 1997.

In which museums do Roberto Matta's masterpieces hang?Reveal the answer

Mostly in Israel Museum (Jerusalem), Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York) and Inter-American Development Bank (Washington, D.C.). The museum table above lists them all.

In which years did Roberto Matta paint the most famous works?Reveal the answer

In 1940s: 8 of the 20 works on this page were made then, Being With (Être Avec) among them.

What are the first and the last famous originals of Roberto Matta?Reveal the answer

On this page, the earliest is Snail's Trace (1937) and the latest Verbo América (1997).

Which subjects did Roberto Matta choose most often?Reveal the answer

Dreamlike (2) and Abstract (2), across the 20 works on this page.

To which art movement does Roberto Matta belong?Reveal the answer

Surrealism, judging by the originals on this page.

Which Roberto Matta works hang at the Israel Museum?Reveal the answer

Untitled, Writing One's Cry (Ecrire son cri) and I Walk: the Israel Museum, Jerusalem holds 5 of the works on this page.

Roberto Matta: life and work

Roberto Matta: A Surrealist Visionary

  • Born: November 11, 1911, Santiago, Chile
  • Died: March 23, 2002, Civitavecchia, Italy

Roberto Sebastián Antonio Matta Echaurren, known as Roberto Matta, was a Chilean painter and architect who significantly impacted abstract expressionism and surrealist art. His journey from architecture student to influential artist reflects a profound exploration of the subconscious mind and a unique artistic vision.

Early Life and Artistic Development

  • Education: Studied architecture at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, graduating in 1935.
  • European Influences: Travels to Europe exposed him to prominent artists like René Magritte, Salvador Dalí, André Breton, and Le Corbusier, shaping his artistic style.
  • Surrealist Engagement: Became a key figure within the Surrealist movement, embracing its exploration of dreams, the subconscious, and challenging conventional reality. His work was heavily influenced by Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theories.

Key Artistic Characteristics and Influences

  • Biomorphic Forms: Matta’s paintings are characterized by organic shapes and forms reminiscent of living organisms, a hallmark of his style.
  • Psychological Landscapes: His works often depict dreamlike landscapes that evoke psychological states and emotions.
  • Abstract Expressionism: While rooted in Surrealism, Matta's work significantly contributed to the development of Abstract Expressionism through its emphasis on gesture, color, and emotional expression. He collaborated with artists like Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock.
  • Modernismo Influence: His connection to the Modernismo art movement is evident in his use of Latin and Greek mythology and medieval verses.

Major Works and Political Engagement

  • Notable Paintings: Being with, Invasion of the Night, and Verbo América are among his most recognized works.
  • Mural "The First Goal of the Chilean People": A large-scale mural painted in 1973 was later covered by the military regime of Augusto Pinochet. It was rediscovered and restored in 2008, now displayed at La Granja City Hall. This work demonstrates his political engagement and commentary on social issues.
  • Ceramic Vessels: Matta also explored ceramic art, creating vessels with surrealist imagery and ancient motifs (as seen in "Senza titolo").

Legacy and Historical Significance

  • Influence on Subsequent Artists: Matta’s innovative use of color, form, and psychological themes inspired generations of artists.
  • Museum Recognition: His works are held in prestigious collections including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City and the Butler Institute of American Art.
  • Continued Relevance: Matta’s exploration of the subconscious mind, his blending of surrealism and abstraction, and his engagement with political themes continue to resonate with contemporary audiences.
All 21 works by Roberto Matta →