“one of Europe’s most interesting young poets.”
—Steven J Fowler
Astra is a PhD researcher and tutor at the University of Surrey with focus in the experimental tradition across poetry, visual art and performance. Her practice-based doctoral project at Surrey is funded by the Doctoral College Studentship Award and explores sculptural poetics as a revolutionary act in the context of the Anthropocene. She is a widely-published author with work featured in UK and international magazines including The Times, Magma Poetry and Buzdokuz. Astra is the author of several books including Stargazing (Guillemot Press), and her work has been translated into Russian, Slovenian and Spanish.
Astra currently delivers experimental poetry workshops at the University for the Creative Arts and works at The Poetry Society's Poetry Review. She is also a founder of Poem Atlas, and has curated several visual poetry exhibitions across the UK. She won the Pebeo Mixed Media Art Prize in 2016, and her visual work has been showcased at contemporary visual exhibitions at the National Poetry Library and the Westminster Reference Library in London amongst other venues.
photo: Christopher Andreou
Extended Bio
Currently based in London
Born 1991, Greece
Education
2019-2022, University of Surrey, PhD in Experimental Poetics
2016-2017, Royal Holloway University of London, MA Poetic Practice
2009-2013, University of Surrey, BA (Hons) Theatre Studies
Editorial
2018-now, Editorial Assistant (freelance) at The Poetry Review
2020, Assistant Editor at Mercurius Magazine
2019-2021, Editor at Pamenar Press
2019-2020, Poetry Editor at WhyNow Magazine
Teaching
2021, Tutor in Creative Writing, University of Surrey
2019-now, Creative Workshop Tutor, University for the Creative Arts
Books
2021, AWW-STRUCK (Guildford: Poem Atlas).
2021, Bunnies Behind Bars (Newton-le-Willows: KFS Press).
2021, Crescent Earth (Talgarreg: Broken Sleep Books).
2021, Auditioning for Poem Atlas (Guildford: Poem Atlas).
2020, Astropolis (Bristol: Hesteglock Press).
2020, Temporary Spaces (London: Pamenar Press).
2019, Blockplay (Bristol: Hesteglock Press).
2019, Stargazing (Cornwall: Guillemot Press).
2019, Perseverance Valley Interrupted (Cornwall: Stegosaurus).
2019, Almost a Dream (London: Sampson Low).
2019, Imprints We Leave Behind (London: Gang Press).
2018, Clockwork (London: Ampersand Publishing).
2017, Almost a Nightmare (London: Sampson Low).
Printed & Online Magazine appearances include:
3:am magazine, Aesthetica, Alterity, Ambit, Anthropocene Journal, Babel Tower Notice Board, Bee Craft, Berfrois Magazine, Berkeley Poetry Review, Burning House Press, Buzdokuz, Crisiology, Cuntry Living Zine, Datableed Zine, Dusie, Eborakon Journal, Erotoplasty, Fur lined Ghettos, Harana Poetry, НОЖ, HTVN Magazine, Kanstellation Magazine, Literratura, Magma Poetry, Mercurius Magazine, Moonchild Magazine, Moon Lit, National Poetry Month Canada, Pamenar Press Magazine, Periodicities Journal, Permeable Barrier, Perspektive, Petrichor Journal, Poetry News, Queen Mob's Tea House, Stag Hill Journal, Streetcake Magazine, Stride Magazine, Synchronised Chaos Magazine, Tangerine Magazine, Tears in the Fence, Tentacular Magazine, The Abandoned Playground, The Minnesota Review, The Minute Review, The Projectionist's Playground, The Times, ToCall Magazine, Visual Verse, ZenoMagazine
Performed in the UK venues including:
504 Arch London, Avivson Gallery, Beehive Tottenham, Betsey Trotwood, Café OTO, CanvasCafé, Chener Books, Conway Hall, Dutch Church, Gulbenkian, Harrison Pub London, Hungarian Cultural Centre, Iklectik London, Kensal Green Cemetery Chapel, Libreria London, Museum of Futures, Nell of Drury, Rich Mix, Peckham Pelican, Rose Theatre Kingston, Second Shelf Books, South London Gallery, Senate House, Sterts Arts Centre, The Crown Tavern, The Poetry Café, The Spike Guildford, Torriano Meeting House, University of Surrey, Westminster Reference Library, Winchester Science Centre & Planetarium
Performed international venues including:
Einbaumöbel (Vienna), Klub Gromka (Ljubljana)
Collaborations
Lina Buividavičiūtė, Sarah Dawson, Nial Firth, Oliver Fox, Matthew Haigh, Chris Holmes, John Kilburn, Dacy Lim, Phoebe Power, Michal Piotrowski, Emily Russell Thomas, Vik Shirley, Muanis Sinanović, Maria Sledmere, Henriette Støren, Nic Stringer, Sean Tomlin, Ellie Tsatsou, Arvis Viguls
Festival and Poetry Series Appearances
artBLAB London, Bodmin Moor Poetry Festival, Bristol Photo Festival, Cadence Video Poetry Festival, Contraband Live, Dead Women Poets Society, Dirt, Enemies Project, European Poetry Festival, Free Verse Poetry Book Fair, Green Blues Seminar series, Guillotine, IGNOR Festival, International Video Poetry Festival, PRAXIS, Small Publishers’ Fair, StAnza International Poetry Festival, Theatre of Failure, The Poetry Society's Poem-A-Thon, Writers' Centre Kingston Camarade, Xing the Line
Awards/Commendations
2021, Official Selection of Cadence Video Poetry Festival, USA
2021, Official Selection of the 9th International Video Poetry Festival, Greece
2019, Shortlisted for the Zealous Mixed Media Art Prize, UK
2018, Winner of the Not the Not the Booker Prize, UK
2017, Commended at The Poetry Society's Edgelands challenge, UK
2016, Winner of the Pébéo Mixed Media Art Prize, UK
Group Exhibitions
2020, Hesterglock Press Exhibition, Neck of the Woods Cafe, Bristol
2020, Poetry Illustrated: a Teenagers View, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton
2020, Temporary Spaces, The Poetry Society's Café, London
2020, Double Six, Kingston Museum, Kingston
2019, Blockplay Group Exhibition, The Poetry Cafe, London
2019, The Yellow Book Exhibition, Westminster Reference Library
2019, Behind the mask, Another mask, October Gallery, London
2019, Groving: Acts of Resistance, Street Exhibition in Bury St Edmunds
2019, The Poet's Brut Group Exhibition, The Poetry Cafe, London
2019, Poetography Exhibition, Museum of Futures, London
2019, Love Tokens and Bad Pennies Exhibition at #unsettledgallery, London
2018, Ampersand poetry & art evening, 504 Arch, London
2018, Instagram Poetry Exhibition, National Poetry Library, London
2018, Scribbling & Scrawling Exhibition, Museum of Futures, London
2016, Pébéo Art Exhibition, A&D Gallery, London
2014, Pro Arté International Group Exhibition, The Studio, Guildford
2013, Group Student Design Show, Ivy Arts Centre, Guildford
2013, Pro Arté International Group Exhibition, The Studio, Guildford
Online Exhibitions
2021, Photo-poetry SURFACES, at Bristol Photo Festival
2021, AWW-STRUCK at Poem Atlas website
2021, Instagram Poetry for Every Day at StAnza Festival
2021, Refraction, at Poem Atlas website
2020, Future-Facing at Poem Atlas website
2020, artBLAB:Text at artBLAB website
2020, Escapisms at Poem Atlas website
2020, Trånslatiøns at Mellom Press
2020, Islet Zone at Poem Atlas website
Residencies
2019, Roger and Laura Farnworth Arts Residency, Bodmin
Judging
2020, Streetcake Experimental Writing Prize (18-23 Poetry category)
2021, Millfield School Film poetry showcase
2021, Streetcake Experimental Writing Prize
Talks/Guest Lectures
2021, Material Poetics and Sustainability at the University of Surrey
2020, Neo-Futurism and Sustainability at the University of Surrey
2019, Neo-futurism and Beyond, artBLAB at Canvas Café, London
2018, Talk on Mina Loy and Futurism, Dead [Women] Poets at the Poetry Cafè, London