Bio

Matthew Cortez is an artist, curator, and scholar at the intersection of practice and theory. With a BA in Art History, Theory, and Criticism, from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) he is exhibiting artworks, curating exhibitions, and authoring contemporary scholarship.

In 2023, Cortez exhibited his first solo exhibition with Northwestern University’s Dittmar Memorial Gallery, Matthew Cortez: I Love You. I Love You? I Love You! He has also exhibited in group exhibitions at SAIC Galleries and Indiana University Northwest among others.

He is currently the Director of the 30th Anniversary at SAIC’s SITE Galleries and is Editor of SITE Galleries: 30 Years of Student-Led Art, Exhibitions, and Archives published in 2025 by SAIC. His publication has been acquired by over 30 institutions including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Library. In his role at SITE Galleries he has curated five exhibitions on SAIC’s campus in Downtown Chicago including the 30th Anniversary exhibition, Archive as Action, Archive as Discourse.