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Matthew Troyer (b. 1988) is an American artist, educator, and former U.S. Marine Corps Combat Photographer. Specializing in documentary photography, Troyer critically examines the lasting impact of war on individuals, communities, and culture. Drawing on his experiences as a veteran, his work explores the intersections of war, memory, identity, and consumer culture, using a multifaceted approach to challenge narratives that shape America's understanding of conflict and its legacy.

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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.

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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 

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Exhibitions

  • FRESH, 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

  • Open Call 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

  • 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​

 

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                                                                                                                                   

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