“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. 

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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

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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

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Contribution in Anthologies:

2020, Writing Utopia by Hesterglock Press

2020, Temporary Spaces by Pamenar Press

2019, O Moon Moon Cento by The Poetry Society

2019, Dirt by Corrupted Poetry

2019, Europoe by Kingston University Press

2019, Berfrois: The Book by Dostoyevsky Wannabe

2018, The Creel by Guillemot Press

2018, No, Robot, No! by Sidekick Books

2018, Wretched Strangers by Boiler House Press

2018, Bedford Square Anthology 11 by Ward Wood

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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, ZenoMagazine

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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

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Performed international venues including:

Einbaumöbel (Vienna), Klub Gromka (Ljubljana)

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Residencies

2019, Roger and Laura Farnworth Arts Residency, Bodmin

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