Matthew Troyer (b. 1988) is an artist, educator, and former U.S. Marine Corps Combat Photographer whose work critically examines the lasting impact of war on individuals, communities, and culture. Specializing in documentary photography, Troyer uses an interdisciplinary approach to explore the intersections of war, memory, identity, and consumer culture. Drawing on his unique perspective as a veteran, his work investigates the narratives and cultural forces that shape America’s understanding of conflict and its legacy, fostering discussions about war’s lasting presence in society.

​

Troyer received his BFA, with honors, in Photography and Imaging from Ringling College of Art and Design in 2022 and an MFA in Studio Art from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2024. He is currently a Part-Time Lecturer at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. 

​

​

Education and Training

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

• BFA, Photography & Imaging, with Honors, Ringling College of Art & Design, Sarasota, Fla., 2022 

• Instructor Trainer Course, Defense Information School, Fort Meade, M.d., 2014 

• Intermediate Photojournalism Course, Defense Information School, Fort Meade, M.d., 2013 

• Intermediate Information Operations Practitioners Course, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, 2013 

• Department of Labor, Journeyman Photographer Certificate, 2012 

• Combat Camera Photography & Extreme Climate Workshop, Camp Johnson, N.C., 2009 

• Basic Still Photography Course, Defense Information School, Fort Meade, M.d., 2009 

​

Exhibitions

• The Uniformed States of America, Greensboro Project Space, Greensboro, N.C., 2025

• FRESH Group Exhibition, Artspace, Raleigh, N.C., 2024

• Playing at War, Center For Study Of the American South, Love House, N.C., 2024

• A Product Of Its Environment, Ackland Art Museum, Chapel Hill, N.C., 2024

• The Uniformed States of America, Contemporary Art Museum, Raleigh, N.C., 2024

• (REMIX): Domestic Materiality, A.D. Gallery, Pembroke, N.C., 2024

• EMERGE 2023, Midwest Center for Photography, Wichita, K.S., 2023

• Playing At War, Solo Exhibition, John and June Allcott Gallery, Chapel Hill, N.C., 2023

• 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

• Group Exhibition 2021, PhotoPlace Gallery, Middlebury, Vt., 2021

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

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

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

 

Publications​

• The New York Times, To Win in North Carolina, Democrats Need to Get Out of Town, 2024

• Canvas Rebel,, Artist Interview, 2024

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

• Passengers Journal, Volume 3, Issue #1, 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,  Military & Defense, March 19, 2016

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

• The Blaze,  “Incredible Pictures of U.S. Marines in 2013”, 2013

• TIME Magazine (Online)  “Leatherneck Lunch”, 2013

 

Awards

• Student Award for Innovative Imaging, Society of Photographic Education, 2024

• Emerging Artist, Midwest Center for Photography, 2023 ​

• 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, 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   

• Member, National Press Photographers Association                                                                                                                                   

​