Matthew Troyer (b. 1988) is an American artist, and former U.S. Marine Corps Combat Photographer. He received his Bachelor of Fine Art in Photography and Imaging from Ringling College of Art and design in 2022 and is currently attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he is projected to receive his Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art in 2024. Through photography-based inquiry, Troyer seeks to challenge the simplistic and homogenized representations of military experiences perpetuated in the media. He encourages viewers to consider the connection between military institutions and our shared cultural imagination, ultimately seeking to challenge conventional modes of representation, cultivate empathy, and foster a nuanced understanding of the complexities of military experiences and their impact on individuals and society.

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Education

• MFA, Studio Art, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,  Expected Graduation 2024

• BFA, Photography & Imaging, Ringling College of Art & Design, 2022

• Instructor Trainer Course, Defense Information School, 2014

• Intermediate Photojournalism Course, Defense Information School, 2013

• Intermediate Information Operations Practitioners Course, 2013

• Department of Labor, Journeyman Photographer Certificate, 2012

• Combat Camera Photography & Extreme Climate Workshop, 2009

• Basic Still Photography Course, Defense Information School, 2009

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Exhibitions

• A Tell Tale, PEEL Gallery, Carborro, N.C., 2023

• BASEMENT x Peel, BASEMENT, Chapel Hill, N.C., 2022

• Collateral Damage Project, Pyle Center, Madison, Wis., 2022

• Here + Now, Gallery 263, Cambridge, Mass., 2022

• The Past Upon Us, Project Space 340, Sarasota, Fla., 2022

• #NewVisions 2022, Texas Photographic Society, Houston, Tx, 2022

• CAPTURED, Las Laguna Art Gallery, Laguna Beach, Calif., 2022

• Open Call 2021, PhotoPlace Gallery, Middlebury, Vt., 2021

• The Artist Intervenes, Praxis Photo Arts Center, Minneapolis, Minne., 2021 

• New Portraits, Debra M. Cooley Photography Gallery, Sarasota, Fla., 2021

• War Paint: Profiles of Courage, Project Space 340, Sarasota, Fla., 2020, 2021

• Color Space, Debra M. Cooley Photography Gallery, Sarasota, Fla., 2020

• Best of Ringling Annual Juried Exhibition, Willis A. Smith Galleries, Sarasota, Fla., 2020

• Ringling College of Art & Design Annual PI Show, Diane Roskamp Exhibition Hall, Sarasota, Fla. 2020

• Creative Quarterly’s top 100 Artists (Top 25 Photographers) of 2018, YUI Gallery, New York, NY., 2019

• Student and Veteran Showcase, Madeby Gallery, Sarasota, Fla., 2019

• Best of Ringling Annual Juried Exhibition, Patricia Thompson Gallery, Sarasota, Fla., 2019

• Veteran & Alumni Show, Madeby Gallery, Sarasota, Fla., 2018

 

Publications

• VAST Art Magazine, Featured Artist, Issue # 3, 2021

• Passengers Journal, Volume 3, Issue #1, 2021

• Malvie Magazine #89, 2021

• Creative Quarterly Magazine Best 100 Artists of 2020 Book

• Creative Quarterly Magazine #62, 2020

• Creative Quarterly #60, 2020

• International Photo Awards Book, 2019

• Creative Quarterly Magazine #54, 2019

• Creative Quarterly Best 100 Artists of 2018 Book

• GlobalSecurity.Org 2018: “The year on Pen: U.S. Military Forces on the Korean Peninsula”, 2019

• WeAreTheMighty.com “Why veterans tapping a drink on the bar is a sign of respect”, 2018

• Business Insider.com: Military & Defense, March 19, 2016

• UPI.com: South Korea Building up military, rising as an arms exporter, 2015

• TheBlaze.com: “Incredible Pictures of U.S. Marines in 2013”, 2013

• TIME.com: “Leatherneck Lunch”, 2013

 

Awards

• Honorable Mention, #NewVisions 2022, Texas Photographic Society, 2022

• Trustee Scholar, Photography & Imaging, Ringling College of Art & Design, 2022

• Top 100 Artists (Top 25 Photographers), Creative Quarterly, 2020

• Gold Juror’s Award, “Traci and Nancy”, Best of Ringling Annual Juried Exhibition, 2020

• Honorable Mention, “Marine in the Woods”, Editorial/Press, International Photography Awards, 2020

• Honorable Mention, “Traci and Nancy”, People/Family, International Photography Awards, 2020

• Honorable Mention, “Gisselle and Myrtha”, People/Family, International Photography Awards, 2020

• Best Technique Award, “Portrait of a Priest”, Best of Ringling Annual Juried Exhibition, 2019

• 3rd Place - Press/Personality, “Portrait of a Priest”, International Photography Awards, 2019

• People’s Choice Award, “Keara”, Madeby Gallery Student and Veteran Showcase, 2019

• Top 100 Artists (Top 25 Photographers), Creative Quarterly, 2018

• 1st Place, “Portrait of a Priest”, Madeby Gallery Veteran and Alumni Show, 2018

 

Professional Organizations 

• Member, Society of Photographic Educators, 2020                                                                                                                                         

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