Bio

Matthew Cortez is an individual at the intersection of practice and theory. Claiming a myriad of titles including Artist, Curator, Poet, Scholar, and Student of Art History he is within the Artworld in many ways. He is currently studying Art History, Theory, & Criticism at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), while simultaneously exhibiting artworks, curating exhibitions, and fulfilling his role as SAIC’s SITE Galleries Director of the 30th Anniversary. He is currently organizing special programming and is Editor of SITE Galleries: 30 Years of Student-Led Art, Exhibitions, and Archives to be published in spring 2025 by SAIC.

Being a Midwest native Cortez has exhibited at several midwest institutions including SAIC Galleries, Northwestern University, & Indiana University Northwest. In his role at SITE Galleries he has curated four exhibitions on SAIC’s campus in Downtown Chicago. Recently he presented on his curatorial projects as a part of the Midwest Art History Society Conference at the University of Chicago.