RM-TNKRT CREATIVE

Education

PhD ABD- Digital Art & Experimental Media (DXARTS) - Seattle, WA
University of Washington

Master of Fine Art: Studio - Chicago, IL
School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Bachelor of Arts: Art -Chicago, IL
Northeastern Illinois University

Associate of Science: Film Production - Winter Park, FL
Full Sail University

Professional Experience

Laboratory Coordinator 2
Fall 2024 & Spring 2025
School of Visual Arts
University of Central Florida
Orlando, Florida

Instructor (DXARTS)
Digital Video Foundations
Fall 2020 & Fall 2021
University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Graduate Assistant (DXARTS)
Digital Art Foundations
Experimental Video Art 1 & 2
Sept 2018 to 2023
University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Graduate Teaching Assistant (DXARTS)
Sept 2018 to 2023
University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Teaching Assistant (Contemporary Practices: Studio)
Aug 2015 to May 2017
School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Shapiro Graduate Research Fellow
Oct 2016 to May 2017
School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Gallery Administrator & Curator
Mar 2011 to Jan 2014
Frankenstone Art Center, Chicago, IL

Grants/
Honors/
Awards/
Residencies

2021 Independent Study Rat City Studios Whitecenter, Washington

2018 Top Scholar Award University of Washington
Seattle, WA

2018 HATCH Artist in Residence Chicago Artist Coalition, Chicago, IL

2016-17 Shapiro Art Center Graduate Research Fellowship, Chicago, IL

2015 Oxbow Winter Resident
Critique Seminar Saugatuck, MI

2015 Ox-Bow Merit Scholarship
School of the Art Institute Chicago, Chicago, IL

2015 Daniel Vandergrift Scholarship
School of the Art Institute Chicago, Chicago, IL

2011 Special Skills Scholarship Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL

Lectures/
Workshops

2020 New Media Artworks + Their Future Lives | Webinar, Seattle Art Fair / Performance
Seattle, Washington

2018 "Guest Lecturer - Digital Art And New Media: History, Theory, And Practice" DXARTS, University of Washington
Seattle, WA

2017 "Visiting Artist Talk: Professional Practices"
Northeastern Illinois University,
Chicago, IL

2017 "What the Gl!tch Gave Me_" Thesis, Sullivan Galleries
School of the Art Institute Chicago,
Chicago, IL

2017 “Shapiro Art and Research Symposium” Visiting Lecturer @ School of the Art Institute Chicago,
Chicago, IL

2016 "Colloquium Presentation: Andrea Fraser" Low Residency Visiting artist Program

2015 "Colloquium
Presentation: Wu Tsang" Low Residency Visiting Artist Series
Chicago, IL

International Exhibitions

2021 "19 Biennale Sztuki Mediów Wro 20201 Reverso" Widok 7
Wroclaw, Poland

2019 "Epicentre" The Wrong Biennale, Comunitat Valenciana, Spain

2019 "Diffrazioni Multimedia Festival" [Sway Delay], Le Murate, Contemporary Arts Projects
Florence, Italy

2011 "Bridging Schools" Sculpture at Northeastern University, Shenyang, China

National Exhibitions

2020 "Power of the Feminine: (RE)INTERPRETADAS [Cyborg Cinema 1.2 : Love is Full of Water]" @ Chicago Art Department, Chicago, IL

2019 "Hypnotica 2019" Fashion Show [Cyborg Cinema Performance] @ Hyena Culture, Seattle, WA

2019 "Iterations" ['The Conscious Rhythm of Her Dream: A Puerto Rican Eulogy' Performance], The Chapel Performance Space at Good Shepard Center, Seattle, WA

2017 "Power of the Feminine" Twisted Oyster Film Festival [Cyborg Cinema Performance] @ Zhou B Art Center in Art NXT Level/33 Contemporary, Chicago, IL

2017 "Open Studio Night" School of the Art Institute Chicago: Sullivan Graduate Studios, Chicago, IL

2017 "Low Res MFA Exhibition” Sullivan Galleries, Chicago, IL

2016 "Low//Impact” Throop Studios, Chicago IL

2016 "Open Studio Night" School of the Art Institute Chicago: Sullivan Graduate Studios, Chicago, IL

2016 Chicago Art District Pilsen "Second Fridays" Art Walk at Turner's Garage, Chicago, IL

2015 "Open Studio Night" School of the Art Institute Chicago: Sullivan Graduate Studios, Chicago, IL

2014 "Artravaganza Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago IL

2013 "ShowPods” First Fridays Pilsen Art Walk, Chicago IL

2013 "Question Mark" Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago IL

2013 SOLO EXHIBITION "Remnants” Upper Gallery, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago IL

2013 SOLO EXHIBITION "Black Valentines” Gallery Cabaret, Chicago IL

2013 "Multiplex" Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL

2013 "Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition” Northeastern Illinois University

2013 "Heartcore 4.0" Matildas, Chicago, IL

2012 SOLO EXHIBITION "Reworked" Black & White Night, HollyWood, Chicago, IL

2012 "A Far Cry" Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL

2012 "Variations" Ronald Williams Library Chicago, IL

2012 SOLO EXHIBITION "Occupy Wall Space” Street Art – Frankenstone Art Center, Chicago, IL

2012 "White Elephants" Frankenstone Art Center, Chicago, IL

2012 "Of the Small & of the Stars” Hungry Ghost Collective, Chicago, IL

2012 "Critical Mass Bike Show" Gala Gallery, Chicago, IL

2011 SOLO EXHIBITION "Elements of Transformation" Black & White Night, Chicago, IL

2011 "Elements of Transformation" Frankenstone Art Center, Chicago, IL

2011 SOLO EXHIBITION "Secret China" Black & White Night at The Hollywood, Chicago

Collaborative Projects

2018 "Sy5z3n_3: Ohm Overdub / Medi(a)tation for Generative Respiration" Vocal performer @ Elastic Arts, Chicago, IL

2017 “SSSS! Second Sexing Sound Symposium” Vocal Performer @ Experimental Sound Studio, Chicago IL

2017 “The Floating Museum” Chicago IL – Audio Visual Researcher

2017 "Neomancing the Vegetables" with MIT Cheetah Robot - Mana Contemporary, Chicago IL

2017 “The Mercury Store Food Chain” Basement Release (Screamsh!p Performance) – Lincoln Park, Chicago IL

2016 “THE COMING TOGETHER OF ALL THINGS" Screamship (First Album) - Get in Tune Studios, Chicago IL

2016 "Where the Sun Goes to Die" At SENSE NOT VOL. 444 (Screamsh!p Performance) at No Nation Art Gallery and Tangential Unspace Lab Space, Chicago IL

2016 "Low//Impact" School of the Art Institute Chicago Low Residency MFA Show: Throop Studios, Chicago IL

2015 "Open Studio Night" (Screamsh!p Performance) at School of the Art Institute Chicago: Sullivan Graduate Studios, Chicago, IL

2014 "Giants and Invisibles" (Screamsh!p Performance) Debonair Social Club - Wicker Park, Chicago IL

2014 “A Plea?sure” (Screamsh!p Performance) at Silver Room Block Party - Wicker Park, Chicago IL

2014 “Axis Baby” (Screamsh!p Performance) at Jerry's - Wicker Park, Chicago IL

2014 “Screamship” (Screamsh!p Performance) at Subterranean - Wicker Park, Chicago IL

2014 “A Plea?sure” (Screamsh!p Performance) at Debonair Social Club - Wicker Park, Chicago IL
2014 “Garden of Need” (Screamsh!p Performance) at Catalyst - Lacuna Lofts, Pilsen, Chicago, IL

2013 “Before I Wake” Music Video – Visuals & Video Editing – Chief Ghoul – Chicago, IL

2013 "Say Wala" Music Video - Visuals & Video Editing – Main Event & Chikko Red – Chicago, IL

2013 “Bad of Everything Good” (Screamsh!p Performance) at C-Haus- Humboldt, Chicago, IL

2012 “Avondale Mural Project” California Avenue Mural Under Pass I90 – Northeastern University, Chicago, IL

2005 "Leave it on the Court" 35mm Film Production, Art Director, Full Sail Studios Orlando, FL

2004 "Yellow Cellophane" 16mm Film Project, Full Sail Studios, Orlando FL

Personal Projects

2019 "Cyborg Cinema Season 1" Instagram (14 Episodes), Seattle, WA

2017 "anim[us]" – Visual FX & Videographer, Chicago, IL

2017 "Women on their March on Washington" Photo & Sound Archiving, Washington, DC

2016 “ECHOHCE” Video/Sound Virtual Project @ Mana Contemporary, Chicago, IL

Commissions

2017 Pablo Swiss "Seven" Music Video - Director & Visual Glitcher - Los Angeles, California

2016 London Sky "Chasing Demons" Music Video - Director & Visual Artist - Wolf Studios London, England

Curatorial Projects

2013 "Valentines Show" Frankenstone Art Center, Chicago, IL

2012 “White Elephants” Frankenstone Art Center, Chicago, IL

2011 “Elements of Transformation” Frankenstone Art Center, Chicago, IL

Last Updated 24.10.31

REBBY MONTALVO - TNKRT

RM-TNKRT is an transdiciplinary artist and creative researcher whose practice blends data, video, creative coding, and physical fabrication to explore the poetics of rupture and transformation. Informed by posthuman theory and grounded in her Puerto Rican heritage, she investigates the entangled relationships between identity, environment, and technology. Raised alongside machines, she sees the digital realm not merely as a tool, but as a mirror and co-conspirator—a site of memory, grief, and becoming.

Generating archival photographs, environmental recordings, internet media, original works and generative code, RM-TNKRT builds datasets that fuel her multimedia experiments. These digital excavations—animated through techniques like Stable Diffusion and datamoshing—conjure fractured visions of the American Dream, feminine fury, and the lingering residues of colonization. Glitch, in her hands, becomes more than disruption: it is resistance, revelation, and ritual. Databent images function as divinatory surfaces, exposing the hidden logics beneath systems of power. Through this lens, she engages glitch aesthetics and artificial intelligence as forms of cultural endurance, weaving together traditional studio methodologies and emerging technologies to envision the human body as a cyborg—scarred by empire, yet pulsing with ancestral memory.

RM-TNKRT enjoys designing creative curricula and curating exhibitions that highlight the work of emerging artists. In addition to her artistic practice, she supports experimental programming for government, educational, and nonprofit institutions, fostering spaces for innovation, access, and community engagement. She holds an Associate Degree in Film Production from Full Sail University, a BA in Studio Art from Northeastern Illinois University, and an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at Diffrazioni Multimedia Festival (Italy), Epicentre at The Wrong Biennale (Spain), and the 19th Biennale WRO (Poland). She is currently completing her PhD in Digital Arts and Experimental Media at the University of Washington.

WORKS

Dataset: Puerto Rican Obituary

1. Hospital Bed
3D Model Photo Capture
Photogrammetry
Agisoft Metashape
2024

What Is Home? is a meditation on death, memory, and the fragmented promises of the American Dream. Inspired by Pedro Pietri’s Puerto Rican Obituary, the project echoes the life and loss of my father—a man who, like many, worked tirelessly for a dream that ultimately consumed his body. Using photogrammetry, I scanned hospital rooms, his cherished landscapes, and the digital traces he left behind to reconstruct a portrait shaped by absence and longing. His death severed not just a familial bond, but a cultural lifeline—he was my link to Puerto Rican identity, to home. As I navigate the grief and its lingering distortions, I ask: how do we preserve what we’re losing? What is home when the person who embodied it is gone?

Note: This video includes flashing visuals, which may not be suitable for individuals sensitive to light or motion.

Dataset: Sway Delay

Sway Delay Experiment
Stablediffusion, Automatic1111, ebSynth, & Python
2023

Sway Delay is an ongoing video experiment exploring AI as a collaborative tool and glitch as a portal for grieving technological and personal shifts. Drawing from datamoshing and Stable Diffusion, the project investigates how digital disruptions—like flickers, delays, and hallucinated imagery—mirror the fragmentation of identity in a post-cybernetic world. Referencing a 2018 performance that examined dissociation through sound and movement, this work revisits themes of temporal rupture, control, and misalignment. As errors emerge—teeth, anime figures, and unstable transitions—the piece becomes a meditation on the tension between precision and chaos, algorithmic bias, and our evolving relationship to time, energy, and embodiment in machine-mediated space.

Note: This video includes flashing visuals, which may not be suitable for individuals sensitive to light or motion.

Dataset: Information Age

1. Drowning in the Feed
Digital Photograph Series
24”X36”
2023

2. Noise in the Feed
Digital Video Glitched
Python
2023

A photographic series that explores the overwhelming weight of informational excess in the digital and physical world. Featuring a body submerged beneath shredded corporate mailers, the work draws parallels between paper waste and the relentless flood of digital ads, spam, and notifications. A hand reaches from the shreded works, a face through the debris—echoes of a body suffocating beneath consumption. This series frames the glitch not only as visual disruption, but as a symptom of spiritual and ecological imbalance. The project critiques how manufactured demands for attention bury creativity, fracture our nervous systems, and sever our connection to stillness and the natural world.

Dataset: Can You See Us Now?

1. Can you see us now?
Video, Smart Contracts, Laser Cut
2023 - DXARTS Gallery
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington

2. Block Chain
4”X4” Sequential Square Laser Cut Acrylics &
Paper Waste from Cuts

3. Smart Contracts of Authenticity?
Solidity Contracts of Transactions Glitched
11X17 Text Prints

Can You See Us Now? is an installation that interrogates the power structures embedded in smart contract technology. Drawing inspiration from Sol LeWitt’s "Certificates of Authenticity," the project features poetic contracts written in Solidity that center indigenous perspectives and question the materialism of digital assets. Accompanied by a video of the Oregon coast—the symbolic end of the western frontier—overlaid with the hum of blockchain data centers, the work explores how automated systems like smart contracts can both replicate and resist systems of oppression. By reframing code as a site of subjectivity, the piece invites viewers to consider how digital infrastructures shape identity, visibility, and the future of relational exchange.

Note: This video includes flashing visuals, which may not be suitable for individuals sensitive to light or motion.

Dataset: Inbetween

Inbetween...
Datamoshed Music Video

inbetween explores the tension and duality between American identity and Puerto Rican nationalism, navigating the shifting space between two cultural rhythms. The project moves through the noise and dissonance of these overlapping identities, reflecting the fluid, often conflicted experience of belonging to both. Through layered sound, image, and interruption, inbetween meditates on what it means to exist between nationhoods, histories, and inherited contradictions—never fully one or the other, but constantly in motion.

Note: This video includes flashing visuals, which may not be suitable for individuals sensitive to light or motion.

Dataset: Puerto Rican Obituary

1. PR D!stopía
2022
Live Zoom Feed Performance
University of Washington
DXARTS Research

2. Just keeps going....and going
2020
Algorithmic Video
Multi Channel

PR D!stopía is an algorithmic experimental film project that documents the layered trauma and resilience of Puerto Rico in the wake of natural disasters, political corruption, and systemic neglect. Drawing inspiration from Pedro Pietri’s poem of the same name, the work compiles footage from platforms like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, and Twitter to construct a living archive of Puerto Rican history. Names of those lost after Hurricane María echo throughout the piece, honoring lives cut short by governmental failure. The project incorporates a live performance component in which layered videos are glitched, datamoshed, and transmitted through DaVinci, OBS, and Zoom—deteriorating with each pass, mirroring the erasure of memory through bureaucratic delay. An algorithmic element, Algorithmic Maria, uses Python to sequence firsthand accounts, offering a deeply personal counter-narrative to mainstream disaster reporting. Together, these elements challenge the viewer to witness Puerto Rico not as a forgotten territory, but as a site of fierce survival and unresolved mourning.

Note: This video includes flashing visuals, which may not be suitable for individuals sensitive to light or motion.

Dataset: The Internet Is...

1. The Internet is...
Black and White Noise Print
24X24

2 ...Repetative
Vertical 4k Video
19th Biennale Sztuki Mediów Wro 2021
Wroclaw, Poland

This glitch animation, explores the evolution of the internet and its influence on contemporary culture through the metaphor of horses—referencing Muybridge’s motion studies as symbols of acceleration and technological change. Framed as a modern-day nickelodeon, the piece combines datamoshing with an algorithmically curated dataset to form a looping visual poem that reflects on the cyclical, addictive rhythms of digital media. Accompanied by a catchy soundtrack, the work holds attention while prompting reflection on the internet’s power to both mirror and distort reality. Inspired by an original poem by the artist and posted as a meme, the animation portrays the internet as a shapeshifting force—capable of evoking awe, disorientation, connection, and chaos—revealing its paradoxical role as both a tool of liberation and a site of manipulation.

Note: This video includes flashing visuals, which may not be suitable for individuals sensitive to light or motion.

Dataset: American Dream?

According to you... what is the American Dream?

This project explores the internet’s role in shaping public understanding of the American Dream, revealing how search results and algorithmic logic often reflect narrow, biased perspectives aligned with capitalist agendas. By employing data-moshing, glitching, and remixing techniques on search engine outputs, the work disrupts and deconstructs dominant narratives, exposing the algorithm’s role in erasure. These digital interventions become acts of resistance—tools for decolonizing media and reclaiming agency in meaning-making. Through broken codecs and corrupted visuals, the project invites viewers to reconsider the myth of the American Dream and to imagine more inclusive, self-determined interpretations rooted in personal and collective experience.

Note: This video includes flashing visuals, which may not be suitable for individuals sensitive to light or motion.

Dataset: American Dream?

Prosumer
Video Projection
Glitch, Datamosh, Video

Prosumer is a glitch remix that explores the cycle of digital consumption and creation in the age of internet culture, drawing inspiration from popular video genres like mukbang, montage, and remix. Referencing Andy Warhol’s iconic performance of eating a hamburger, the piece reimagines the act through a digital lens—commenting on the endless hunger for content, validation, and visibility. Like the “starving artist” of the analog era, today’s prosumer is caught in a loop of scrolling, streaming, and self-performance. Featured in the 2019 Epicentre exhibition at The Wrong Biennale in Comunitat Valenciana, Spain, this work confronts viewers with the disorienting pleasures and pressures of online life, encouraging reflection on how digital spaces mediate identity, creativity, and desire.