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. As an artist specializing in documentary photography, Troyer leverages an interdisciplinary approach drawing inspiration from anthropological principles. 

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Troyer provokes examination of the intricate relationship between war and American culture. By shining a light on these dimensions of American life, he invites viewers to partake in nuanced discussions about the profound implications for society at large. In this endeavor, Troyer aims to investigate prevailing narratives, disrupt conventional depictions, and nurture a deeper understanding of the complexities inherent in the convergence of war and culture.

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Education and Training

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

• 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 

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Exhibitions

• 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

• 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

• Artist Interview, Canvas Rebel, 2024

• 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

• 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 Photography Association                                                                                                                                   

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