Conversations with Matthew Troyer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Troyer

Hi Matthew, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have a somewhat unconventional life path as an artist. After graduating high school in 2006, I completed three semesters of college as a film major, then promptly dropped out and joined the United States Marine Corps as a combat photographer (yes, that’s a real job). Joining the military was a decision neither my family nor anyone who knew me at the time would have believed I’d make. A year and a half later, I found myself spending 13 months documenting combat operations in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan, truly earning the job title. That experience forever changed me in too many ways to count.

After Afghanistan, I was stationed in Oahu, Hawaii. Only a few short months later, I was sent to the southern Philippines to document the global war on terror alongside our Special Forces community, in a region I had no idea was even involved in Operation Enduring Freedom. I became intimately familiar with the Philippines and Thailand through multiple photographic assignments, thankfully not combat-related. I re-enlisted and was selected to teach photography at the School of Visual Communication, Journalism, and Public Affairs for the U.S. Department of Defense. Here, I found my passion for teaching, becoming the head of the photography faculty and the subject matter expert for photography.

Re-enlisting was never in the plans for me, yet I did it to teach. When my time was up and staying wasn’t an option, I decided to leave the service. My plan was to keep teaching, but I didn’t have the magical piece of paper, the Master’s Degree. I didn’t even finish my Bachelor’s, so there I was, a 30-year-old college freshman. Thankfully, I had some fantastic benefits to use to complete my education. I attended Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida, majoring in Photography & Imaging.

I won’t lie—having my background in photography and as an educator in the arts, I had a bit of a chip on my shoulder coming into the program. I guess who can blame me, being a decade older than everyone. Transitioning out of the military is not an easy road to travel; I feel like it’s a forever process. It wasn’t until my sophomore year that I realized I needed to eat a big slice of humble pie. Doing that wonderfully changed my learning and my relationship with my undergrad cohort. I began the program not wanting to touch on my military experience within my artwork. I was very interested in editorial and commercial portrait photography, possibly stemming from the lack of control in shooting news journalism. About halfway through the program, however, my mentor/instructor Wes Kline recommended I explore my experience for one of our projects. That honestly opened Pandora’s box for me. I realized I had things to say about my experience, and photography became a way to work through a lot of that.

The next step was graduate school, something I knew very little about, being a first-generation college graduate. In the end, I chose to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While it may not be globally known for its art program, it has a world-class faculty and I will always sing their praises. As a research 1 school, it heavily emphasized just that within creative practice, leading me to align closely with anthropology, even having an anthropologist (Dr. Jocelyn Chua) on my thesis committee. My work shifted to not only be about the military experience but also how the military and war are present within American society. Some of this work can be seen at CAM Raleigh, thanks to the curation of Raj Bunnag, alongside the rest of my MFA cohort’s thesis works, closing Sept 8, 2024.

This path has led to various projects and has truly taken over my art. I will now be moving to spend a year as an Adjunct Professor of Photography at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro before heading off to the University of Manchester in England to study for my Master of Arts in Visual Anthropology. Im truly excited about my future as an artist and educator.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My experience serving in combat in Afghanistan I had mentioned changed me in many ways. I’m open about all f them because I was to battle against the stigma veteran’s receive and hold within ourselves surrounded mental health and other injuries. During my time in I received multiple traumatic brain injuries due to enemy indirect fire. For the uninitiated that’s a simple way of say I had a rocket shot at me, and was closer than you’ll ever want to be to the unintentional detonation of some improvised explosive devices. These instances of course being an occupation hazard of course, and that’s most delicate way I can put it all. That is of course only speaking to my injuries and not highlighting the vast array of experiences of hell and also joy and brotherhood. I am profoundly changed in so many ways that even I still learn about to this day.

One huge setback on the journey post-serving was my initial attempt to study for my bachelors degree. Before Ringling College I attended Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in Colorado. The school operated in 8 week terms, and I felt great rocking the first term with a 4.0 GPA. Veterans must have each term/semester certified by the Department of Veteran Affairs through a school official and as mine went to approve my next term the VA kicked it back stating I no longer would be receiving education benefits. This was of course with no explanation. I had of course had the school approved and completed a term with certification. I was then told I would need to repay the term and I was stranded in Colorado by myself having moved across the country for school. I moved, with my tail between my legs, back to Florida while I awaited an appeal and applied for other education benefits. This experience is really what broke down that protective barrier where all my trauma was stuffed deep, so, so deep and my PTSD came bubbling to the surface. I am thankful to say, my benefits were re-instated and I have since received wonderful treatment for PTSD.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in exploring the deep and lasting impacts of military service and warfare on individuals and society. My unique perspective as a former United States Marine Corps combat photographer gives me insight into the realities of war and its aftermath.

My work delves into the narratives surrounding national identity, patriotism, and America’s fascination with warfare. I aim to unravel how collective memory ties us to war, exposing the cultural and historical layers that shape our understanding of America’s past and present. I also examine the pervasive influence of warrior culture, especially its impact on masculinity and how it intertwines with consumerism. This exploration reveals a cycle of commemoration and consumption, where commerce and ideologies rooted in violence become crucial to identity formation in our culture.

Additionally, I explore the intersection of religion and spirituality with military culture, where Christian symbolism often legitimizes acts of violence and reinforces narratives of heroism and duty. My art confronts the nuances of patriotism and the influence of military culture, highlighting how these forces shape society in subtle and overt ways.

I’m particularly drawn to capturing the remnants of war and the lasting impact of military culture on contemporary life. By highlighting the echoes of conflict in everyday scenes within communities, I invite viewers to confront the lingering presence of war and its implications for the past, present, and future.

What sets me apart is my ability to challenge conventional narratives and foster a deeper understanding of military experiences and their lasting effects. I aim to provoke thought, inspire dialogue, and contribute to a more nuanced public discourse about war and its multifaceted impacts on our collective consciousness and cultural landscape. Through my work, I explore our relationship with conflict and its enduring presence in contemporary American life.

I’m most proud of how my work encourages people to think critically about these complex issues and engage in meaningful conversations about the lasting effects of war on our society.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Please go and see my work (and the work of my MFA Cohort) at CAM Raleigh on display until September 8, 2024 and be on the look out for my work!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.troyermatthew.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthewtroyer