Stephen Anthony Banks is an American photographer, artist, advertising art director, commercial film producer, director and co-owner of Wright-Banks Films, Los Angeles. Banks was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in San Carlos, California and Evanston, Illinois. As a middle school student, he was awarded a scholarship to the Art Institute of Chicago. While serving in the U.S. Air Force in the 1950s, he exhibited his photographic work. In the 1960s, Banks began a long career in advertising, first at Leo Burnett, Chicago, and later at William Esty Company, New York, McCann Erickson, São Paulo, Brazil, Ogilvy & Mather, Sao Paolo and Los Angeles, and Dailey & Associates, Los Angeles. He served as president of The Western Region Agency Producers, vice president and board member of the Association of Independent Commercial Producers, and as a member of the Committee of Commercial Production of the American Association of Advertising Agencies. While continuing to work in advertising, Banks pursued photography, working on subjects including drag racing, rock musicians, and Brazilian entertainers. In the 1970s, while living in Los Angeles, he produced a series of photographic essays titled Hollywood Souvenirs, Hollywood People, Bruised But Not Forgotten, Monroe: Beyond the Grave, California Cadillacs, Death Management, Doggie Heaven and Jazz Visions. He has also published two books, Janis' Garden Party and Nitro. He is the winner of numerous photography awards, including Lucie Awards and a Leica Medal of Excellence. His photographs have been widely published and are included in many public and private collections.'' His photography has also appeared as cover art on albums by Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Sammy Davis Jr., the Clayton Brothers, Alan Broadbent/Lee Konitz, Johnny Winter and Janis Joplin. Since 2000, Banks has focused on painting and sculpture. His work employs polyethylene, resin, glue, plastic sheeting, aluminum foil, and other unorthodox materials in tactile collages, constructions and assemblages.
