Alumna Cali M. Banks breaks boundaries as an artist and educator whose work has been shown across the United States, Europe, and South America. Banks’ specialty is experimental photography and filmmaking. Her work can be described as raw, capturing intimate, dreamlike scenes. It explores personal and collective histories, relational intimacies, and the expansion of narrow, flattened definitions of Indigenous art.
She says that the foundation that Allegheny College provided her allowed her the freedom to experiment and explore her voice as an artist.
“The interdisciplinary nature of both my major and minor at Allegheny gave me a more holistic approach to my professional life as an artist,” notes Banks, who majored in art and technology with a minor in global health studies. “I never felt pigeonholed in my studies, which led me to have skills in many different areas – from epidemiologic research to darkroom printing.
After completing her bachelor’s degree, Banks pursued a Master of Fine Arts in interdisciplinary media arts practices and a certificate in college teaching at the University of Colorado Boulder. Soon after, she moved to New York City with two other Allegheny College alumni with whom she remained close friends.
Throughout her time in New York, Banks taught students at all levels. Her first opportunity was as a teaching artist at Reel Works, where she instructed their filmmaking programs and advanced labs. The documentary lab program allowed high schoolers to direct, write, and film documentaries—some pitching their ideas to Paramount executives. Additionally, Banks instructed as a digital arts and mixed media teaching artist for Creative Art Works, a nonprofit that empowers students in the arts.
Throughout her career, she has inspired college students to pursue photgraphy, video art, and art history at the Indiana University campuses and the University of Colorado Boulder. At Indiana University East, Banks created the curriculum for the first video art course and was a faculty mentor for the College’s Summer Research Scholars Program.
“With teaching, the most rewarding aspect is being a mentor for students. I had great relationships with my art professors at Allegheny, and I feel like I’m able to pay that forward now with my own students,” she says.
Today, Banks leads the communication department at Light Work, engaging in outreach and education. She says her favorite aspect of the role is working with artists-in-residence from around the world. She is also an adjunct professor at Syracuse University, teaching the next generation about film and media arts.
“The rigor of the academics at Allegheny definitely prepared me for graduate school, especially when writing my thesis dissertation,” says Banks. “ I also have Professors Heather Brand and Byron Rich to thank for helping me with applications to graduate school, preparing me for the actual experience, and guiding me in creating curriculum for courses I taught, and continue to teach.”
Looking forward to the future, Banks is excited to join the Penumbra Workspace Residency in 2025, provided by the Penumbra Foundation, a nonprofit that bridges the arts and sciences. She’s showcased her work previously at:
- Anthology Film Archives, New York
- Atlanta Film Festival, Georgia
- Everson Museum of Art, New York (solo exhibition)
- Every Woman Biennial, London
- RedLine Contemporary Art Center, Colorado
- Smack Mellon, New York
- Tiger Strikes Asteroid, Philadelphia
Banks has also been featured in The Hand Magazine, Lomography, Lenscratch, and Rolling Stone France. Most recently, she was honored by Film Photo Award and received one of two Visionary Project Awards.
