Photo by Roger Ho
Matthew Pagoaga is a Los Angeles-based artist whose work explores disembodied experiences, ego-death in media viewership, capitalist sites operating through dissemblance, and tensions between corporatism and community. Using cinematic deconstructions and transformative digital data processes, he critically explores technology’s dual nature - as a tool of oppression, entanglement, and destruction, and as a catalyst for fecundity, engendering new thought and energizing change.
Matthew's work has been jury-selected in the MOZAIK Future Art Awards in 2020 and 2021, won Honoraria awards from the Burning Man organization, and received a grant from the CalArts Commission on Sustainability (CCS). His work has exhibited nationally in California, Nevada, New York, Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Kentucky, as well as internationally in Italy.
He holds a B.A. in Applied Arts and Media from Antioch University (2019) and an M.F.A. in Art + Technology from California Institute of the Arts (2021).
From 2022 to 2025, Matthew served as Director of Media Studies, Production Services for The Claremont Colleges. He has taught courses on video art, film production, and algorithmic creativity. He has guest lectured for prominent organizations such as the Director's Guild of America, Producer's Guild of America, USC Stark Producing Program, and AFI Conservatory.
Matthew is currently pursuing a PhD in Film, Television, & Digital Media at The University of California, Los Angeles.
Education
In Progress - PhD in Film, Television, & Digital Media
University of California, Los Angeles
2021 - M.F.A. in Art + Technology with a specialization in Integrated Media
California Institute of the Arts
2019 - B.A. in Applied Arts & Media
Antioch University - Los Angeles
2006 - Immersion Filmmaking Program Certificate
The Los Angeles Film School
Select Past Exhibitions
May 2025 - In Full Expression - Group Exhibition - Sprague Gallery, Harvey Mudd College - Claremont, CA
June 2024 - The Arcade of Hypermodernity - Group Exhibition - Studio Channel Islands - Camarillo, CA
December 2023 - The Art of Food - Group Exhibition - The Chateau Gallery - Louisville, KY
November 2023 - The Fl3tch3er Exhibit - Group Exhibition - The Reece Museum - Johnson City, TN
October 2023 - Beneath the Horizon - Group Exhibition - The Reef - Los Angeles, CA
October 2023 - Museum of Americana - Fall Issue
November 2022 - durée - Group Exhibition - Helen J Gallery - Hollywood, CA
October 2022 - L'Oiseau Residency - Online Residency / Group Exhibition
August 2022 - Storefront Art Program - Glendale Galleria - Glendale, CA
May 2022 - CalArts Expo 2022 - Group Exhibition - California Institute of the Arts - Valencia, CA
January 2022 - Political Statement - Group Exhibition - Millipeani - Rome, IT
January 2022- GLAMFA 2022 - Group Exhibition - Long Beach, CA
December 2021 - On Media, Signals and Connections - Group Exhibition - Millipeani - Rome, IT
November 2021 - sanguin/e/ary - Solo Exhibition - California Institute of the Arts - Valencia, CA
October 2021 - Crossed Wires - Group Exhibition - California Institute of the Arts - Valencia, CA
September 2021 - This Is Me - The Art House Gallery - Online Exhibition
August 2021 - Digital Multiverse - Virtual Burning Man 2021 - Virtual Exhibition
August 2021 - Nomad - Group Exhibition - Torrance Art Museum - Torrance, CA
July/August 2021 - Ultra! - Group Exhibition - Torrance Art Museum - Torrance, CA
June 2021 - MOZAIK Future Art Awards - Virtual Exhibition
June 2021 - Now Trending - Online Exhibition - Palos Verdes Art Center - Palos Verdes, CA
May 2021 - Transitional Objects - Group Exhibition - JACCC, Los Angeles, CA
April 2021 - Feeler Gauge Film Festival - Online Exhibition
April 2021 - CalArts Spring Event 2021 - California Institute of the Arts - Online Exhibition - Valencia, CA
March 2021 - A Digital Art Salon - San Luis Obispo Museum of Art - San Luis Obispo, CA
January 2021 – CAMFA / GLAMFA 2021 – Online Exhibition
August 2020 - Digital Multiverse - Online Exhibition
August 2020 - Methods of Negotiation- Art Music Lit Space - Online Exhibition
June 2020 - MOZAIK Future Art Awards 2020 - Online Exhibition
May 2020 - CalArts Expo 2020 - Online Exhibition - California Institute of the Arts - Valencia, CA
January 2020 - Art + Technology - Coaxial Arts Foundation - Los Angeles, CA
August 2018 - Burning Man 2018, I, Robot - Black Rock City, NV
October 2011 - Wonderland Exhibition - Wonderland Collective, NY
2011 - The Magic Lantern Show - The Mercury Lounge - Manhattan, NY
2010 - The Magic Lantern Show - High Noon Saloon - Madison, WI
Speaking Engagements
August, 2020 - Art Music Lit Space's 'Methods of Negotiation' Exhibition
October, 2019 - California Institute of the Arts - Film School
August, 2019 - Director's Guild of America
March, 2019 - Producer's Guild of America
November, 2018 - American Film Institute
November, 2018 - Columbia College Hollywood
October, 2018 - University of Southern California - School of Cinematic Arts
August, 2017 - Director's Guild of America
Awards
2025 - Eugene V. Cota-Robles Award
2021 - Mozaik Philanthropy Future Art Award for work "Pop Song"
2020 - California Institute of the Arts Commission for Sustainability (CCS) Grant for work "Pop Song"
2020 - California Institute of the Arts Student Union Metier Grant for work "Pop Song"
2020 - Mozaik Philanthropy Special Mention for work "Myself When I'm Not Real"
2019 - Burning Man Artist Honoraria for work "Parallel Self Embraced"
2018 - Burning Man Artist Honoraria for work "Cirrus"
2010 - 48-Hour Film Festival Audience Choice Award
​