Roberto Matta (Chilean, 1911–2002) was a sketch artist and painter known for his work in the Abstract Expressionist and Surrealist movements during the 20th century. Matta work for famed architect Le Corbusier (French, 1887–1965) and was also introduced to Salvador Dali (Spanish, 1904–1989), who encouraged Matta to show his drawings to Andre Breton (French, 1896–1966). Breton and Dali connected Matta to the Surrealist movement, which he officially joined in 1937.

Matta artist studied architecture and interior design at the Ponificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. In 1938, he left Europe and went to New York City. During this time, his artwork also evolved from drawings to oil paintings, which is what he is best known for. For the next decade, the artist lived and worked in the United States, creating his Inscape series. During the 1950s and 1960s, the artist divided his time between South America and Europe. His paintings combined politics with semi-Abstract Art. He tended to paint on vast canvases and created a mural entitled The First Goal of the Chilean People for Salvador Allende, the president of Chile at the time. Some of Matta's best-known work include The Road to Heaven, Storming Water River and Redness of Blue, Polimorfologia, Wound Interrogation and The Prophet, Dark Light, Lieberos, Nude Hiding in the Forest and Verginosamente, and La Terre Uni. Matta died on November 23, 2002, in Civiavecchia, Italy.