“one of Europe’s most interesting young poets.”
—Steven J Fowler
Astra is a PhD student at the University of Surrey with focus in experimental writing and the neo-futurist tradition across poetry, visual art and performance. She is the author of several pamphlets 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 freelances for the Poetry Society. 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 poetry exhibitions including the National Poetry Library and the Museum of Futures in London.
photo: Christopher Andreou
Short Bio:
Currently based in London
Born 1991, Greece
Education
2019-2022, University of Surrey, PhD in Neo-futurist 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
2019 - now, Editor at Pamenar Press
2019-2020, Poetry Editor at WhyNow Magazine
Books
2020, Co-edited Temporary Spaces (anthology) by Pamenar Press
2019, Blockplay (pamphlet), published by Hesterglock Press
2019, Stargazing (pamphlet), published by Guillemot Press
2019, Perseverance Valley Interrupted (chapbook), published by Stegosaurus
2019, Almost a Dream (chapbook), published by Sampson Low
2019, Imprints We Leave Behind (chapbook), published by Gang Press
2018, Clockwork (pamphlet), published by Ampersand Publishing
2018, Astropolis (pamphlet), published by HVTN Press
2017, Almost a Nightmare (chapbook), published by Sampson Low
Anthologies
2019, Included in the 'O Moon Moon' Cento by The Poetry Society
2019, In Erosion in Dirt by Corrupted Poetry
2019, Station to Station in 'Europoe' by Kingston University Press
2019, Collected poems in Berfrois: The Book by Dostoyevsky Wannabe
2018, Sea to Spawn in 'The Creel' by Guillemot Press
2018, Neo-Futurist Manifesto in No, Robot, No! by Sidekick Books
2018, Xenelasia in ‘Wretched Strangers’ by Boiler House Press
2018, Selection on poems in ‘Bedford Square Anthology 11’ by Ward Wood
Printed & Online Magazine Publications include:
3:am magazine, Alterity, Ambit, Anthropocene Journal, Berfrois Magazine, Burning House Press, Cuntry Living Zine, Dusie, Eborakon Journal, Erotoplasty, Fur-lined Ghettos, Harana Poetry, HTVN Magazine, Kanstellation Magazine, Moonchild Magazine, Pamenar Press Magazine, Petrichor Journal, Queen Mob's Tea House,
Stag Hill Journal, Streetcake Magazine, Stride Magazine, Synchronised Chaos Magazine, Tangerine Magazine, Tears in the Fence, The Abandoned Playground, The
Projectionist's Playground, ToCall Magazine, Tangerine Magazine, Visual Verse
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, Westminster Reference Library,
Winchester Science Centre & Planetarium
Performed international venues including:
Einbaumöbel (Vienna), Klub Gromka (Ljubljana)
Collaborations
Arvis Viguls, Ellie Tsatsou, Emily Russell Thomas, Dacy Lim, Henriette Støren, Lina Buividavičiūtė, Maria Sledmere, Michal Piotrowski, Muanis Sinanović, Oliver Fox, Phoebe Power, Sarah Dawson, Sean Tomlin
Festival and Poetry Series Appearances
artBLAB London, Bodmin Moor Poetry Festival, Contraband Live, Dead Women Poets Society, Dirt, Enemies Project, European Poetry Festival, Free Verse Poetry Book Fair, Guillotine, IGNOR Festival, PRAXIS, Theatre of Failure, The Poetry Society's Poem-A-Thon, Writers' Centre Kingston Camarade, Xing the Line
Recordings
2019, Reading Pond by Harry Gilonis for the Konch Podcast
2019, Wilderness for the poetry blog of Pamenar Press
2019, Reading from Mina Loy's 'The Lunar Baedeker' in Ep. 69 of a poem a week
2019, Reading a selection of poems at Episode 121 of Lunar Poetry Podcasts
2019, Heliolatry at Ep.58 of a poem a week
2017, Experiment B and Beauty Bias at Issue 2 of Rascal Journal
Awards
2019, Shortlisted for the Zealous Mixed Media Art Prize, UK
2018, Not the Not the Booker Prize winner, UK
2017, Commended at the YPN Edgelands challenge, UK
2016, Pébéo Mixed Media Art Prize winner, 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
Residencies
2019, Roger and Laura Farnworth Arts Residency, Bodmin