The major retrospective dedicated to Roberto Sebastian Matta (1911–2002) has recently concluded at the Ca’ Pesaro International Gallery of Modern Art. Running from October 25, 2024, to March 23, 2025, this historic event marked the first institutional exhibition in Italy devoted to the Chilean genius.
Curated by Norman Rosenthal, Dawn Ades, and Elisabetta Barisoni, the exhibition captured the complexity of a “citizen of the world” who fused science, philosophy, and politics into an unprecedented visual language. The display celebrated the profound bond between Matta and Venice, a relationship sparked in 1948 via the Peggy Guggenheim collection and solidified in 1953, when the masterpiece Alba sulla terra first entered the permanent collections of Ca’ Pesaro.
A Universe Beyond Surrealism
The exhibition explored the artist’s multifaceted identity:
– The Architect of Space: Moving from the perspectival distortions learned under Le Corbusier to the non-Euclidean breakthroughs of monumental works like Coïgitum (1972).
– Designer and Sculptor: Visitors had the chance to admire (and use) the Malitte modular seating system and wander through a “forest” of totemic sculptures that transformed the museum’s entrance and courtyard.
- The Militant Artist: A high-impact section documented Matta’s political commitment through dramatic canvases such as La Chasse aux adolescents (1968) and El Burundu Burunda ha muerto (1975).
From sci-fi atmospheres that predated video game aesthetics to a prophetic ecological sensitivity—demonstrated by sustainable exhibition designs using recycled materials—this retrospective confirmed Matta as one of the most influential figures of the 20th century. It was a vital tribute to an artist who looked “from Leonardo to NASA,” leaving an indelible mark on modern art history.