Photo by Daniel Rampulla
Matías Alvial (b.1997, Santiago, Chile) is a New York based multimedia artist and community organizer. At the core of his work, he explores interpersonal connections: the art of caring, nurturing and growing a community firmly defined by activism, queerness and the arts. His relationships are best illustrated in his 35mm Diary, an ongoing documentary project that consists of capturing the 2020s through film photography, inspired by the early practices of Nan Goldin, Mitch Epstein, Lyle Ashton Harris, and Ryan McGinley. In Alvial’s words, his practice is compartmentalized into two universes, one where he captures the real world through analog photography and another one where he wishes to escape reality via drawing & painting. His gallery debut was in Albert Merola Gallery in Provincetown, MA, alongside artists such as John Waters, Jack Pierson and Peter Hujar. Matías has photographed for i-D, New York Magazine, Paper Magazine, PIN-UP, Document Journal, among others. He holds a BA in ‘The Aesthetics of Commerce’ from New York University.
Education
B.A. in Individualized Studies with a concentration in The Aesthetics of Commerce. New York University ‘19
Exhibitions
2024
”Puncta”. Independent Show, Red de Arte Méxicana, Ciudad de México, México
2023
Reverie. Albert Merola Gallery, Provincetown, MA
Swallowed by the Light. :iidrr Gallery, Lower Manhattan, NY
I Feel Everything At a Moment’s Notice. Ed. Valerie, Lower Manhattan, NY (Two person show)
2022
The Last Picture Show. Albert Merola Gallery, Provincetown, MA
Fotografiets Dag 2022. Preus Museum, Horten, Norway
”Kunst”. Independent Show, New York Financial District, NY
Still Life, Still Alive. STILL LIFE, SoHo, NY
2021
Night and Day. Albert Merola Gallery, Provincetown, MA
Different Strokes, Different Folks. The LGBT Center, New York, NY
tHP: Beacon. Satellite Art Club, Brooklyn, NY
PAUSE. 81 Leonard Gallery, Tribeca, NY (Solo show)
Piercing the Divide; Artifacts and New Stories. The Honey Pump, New York, NY
Group Show. Shrine, New York, NY
Spectroom, Fluid Trajectories. Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti, Milan, Italy
2020
Reflections of…. Albert Merola Gallery, Provincetown, MA
Mirrors. SUBLIMATION, New York, NY
NYC DIY Artist February Residency. 383 Bushwick, Bushwick, NY
Postcards from the Edge. VisualAIDS, Tribeca, NY
2019
Give Me Shelter. Independent Show, Brooklyn Heights, NY
Art Night. Hästens, SoHo, NY
20s X The Canvas. Querencia Studio, Williamsburg, NY
Strawberry Fest. New York University, New York, NY
Fridge Does Frida. Nu Hotel, Brooklyn, NY
Art Pin-Up Party. El Sotano Art Space, New York, NY
Château d'Art Futur ‘19. Virtual Reality Museum, New York University, New York, NY
Gallatin Arts Festival 2019. New York University, New York, NY
2018
Brooklyn Poster Project. SuperHeroes, New York, NY
Art, Etc. New York University, New York, NY
Gallatin Arts Festival 2018. New York University, New York, NY
Spread Love. New York University, New York, NY
2017
Gallatin Mental Health Art Festival. New York University, New York, NY
World Tour Pop-Up Gallery. New York University, New York, NY
Gallatin Arts Festival - 25th Anniversary. New York University, New York, NY
2015
Congressional Exhibit. Young At Arts Museum, Fort Lauderdale, FL
AP Art Superintendent Expo. College Board, Fort Lauderdale, FL
All-Stars. Broward College, Fort Lauderdale, FL
2014
Art-Fallout. Girls Club Gallery, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Art Guild Expo. Broward Art Guild, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Public Collections
The LGBT Community Center National History Archive, New York, NY
Residencies
"Navigating the Art(World)” — The Curatorial Program for Research (CPR), New York, 2019
Awards
Shortlisted, The 2021 Next Step Award — Aperture and Baxter St
Lectures & Talks
2024
Panelist, “Arts after Gallatin.” New York University, New York, NY
2023
Guest lecturer, “Human Rights in Chile.” The School for International Training, New York, NY
Panelist, “Queer Cannabis.” Dumbo House, New York, NY
Guest speaker, Interdisciplinary Projects: Photo/Video, Performance/Installation, taught by Lyle Ashton Harris. New York University, NY
Podcast guest, “Matías Alvial.” Art and Other Stories, Spotify
2022
Moderator, “Queer Lens: I’m Here.” Nova Frontier Film Festival, New York, NY
2021
Guest speaker, Introduction to Urban Studies, taught by Aaron Passell. Barnard College of Columbia University, NY
Panelist, “Different Strokes, Different Folks.” The LGBT Center, New York, NY
Speaker, “In Conversation with Ford.” Amsterdamse Studentenvereniging Gay, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
Speaker, “Queer Artist Stories.” The Brooklyn Loft, New York, NY
Curatorial Experience
2024
”Puncta”. Independent Show, Red de Arte Méxicana, Ciudad de México, México
2022
”Kunst”. Independent Show, Financial District, New York
“Queer Lens: I’m Here.” Nova Frontier Film Festival, New York
Film
IMDb Profile
Illustrator for CAVE, VR short film, 2019 Tribeca Film Festival
Relevant Experience
Studio Manager to Lyle Ashton Harris (2019-2023)
Director at NYU LGBTQ+ Alumni Network (2020-2021)
TA for NYU Steinhardt class “Interdisciplinary Projects: Photo/Video and Performance/Installation” (2019-2020)
Organizer of Queer Art Fundraiser for The LGBT Center (2020)
Press
"Riding the FLAMER High.” Office Magazine, 2023
"Déjame mostrártelo todo: la fotografía de Matías Alvial.” L’Officiel Chile, 2023
”At New York’s Queer Liberation March, Pride Thorny Politics Came to the Fore.” Vogue, 2022
“Matías Alvial: I Hope That My Photographs Empower People To Embrace A Future Where We Are Liberated From Social Norms.” Vanity Teen, 2022
”PETER HUJAR Back in P-Town.” Queer Guru, 2021
“Loving Openly.” Huck, 2021
“The LGBT Center in NY is Hosting a Queer Art Benefit.” GAYLETTER, 2020
“#QueeringLockdown Interview with Matías Alvial.” Gender Fluidity, 2020
”Gucci Equilibrium Takeover Series.” Gucci Equilibrium, 2020
“Where Art Meets Enterprise.” Meet NYU, 2019
“Meet the Stars of our Spring 2019 Infinite Identities issue.” Dazed, 2019
“Meet the new generation of New York's incendiary LGBTQIA+ underground.” Dazed, 2019
”Warriors.” V Magazine, 2019