Candace M. Keller

Candace M. Keller is an Associate Professor of Art History & Visual Culture at Michigan State University, affiliated with the College of Arts & Letters. She serves as Director of the Archive of Malian Photography and Associate Director of Matrix: The Center for Digital Humanities and Social Sciences. Her research focuses on African art, particularly photography in Mali, examining themes of cultural identity, transculturation, and globalization.

Dr. Keller holds M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Art History from Indiana University, specializing in African art and African Studies. Her work emphasizes visual representation’s role in constructing social identity across cultural contexts. She has taught courses such as African Art from Local to Global Contexts and Contemporary Art in Africa, and leads a study abroad program in Mali.

Her landmark book Imaging Culture: Photography in Mali, West Africa (2021) explores Malian visual practices, supported by grants like the National Endowment for the Humanities. Her research has been published in journals like African Arts and presented globally. She advocates for digital preservation of African cultural heritage, reflected in her roles and initiatives.

Dr. Keller has received prestigious recognitions, including the 2021 College of Arts & Letters Outstanding Achievement Award, and her work bridges academic research with public engagement through exhibitions and digital humanities projects.