“one of Europe’s most interesting young poets.”
—Steven J Fowler
Astra is a PhD student at the University of Surrey with focus in the experimental tradition across poetry, visual art and performance. She is a widely-published author with work featured in UK and international magazines including Ambit, Magma Poetry and Buzdokuz. Astra 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 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 Museum of Futures in London amongst other venues.
photo: Christopher Andreou
Short 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
2019 - now, Editor at Pamenar Press
2019-2020, Poetry Editor at WhyNow Magazine
Books
2020, Astropolis (expanded edition) by Hesteglock Press
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
Contribution in Anthologies:
2020, Chris Holmes: Hidden in Chaos by Trope
2020, Green Blues by Dovetail Press
2020, Instagram Poetry for Every Day by National Poetry Library
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
Printed & Online Magazine appearances include:
3:am magazine, Alterity, Ambit, Anthropocene Journal, Babel Tower Notice Board, Berfrois Magazine, Burning House Press, Buzdokuz, Crisiology, Cuntry Living Zine, DatableedZine, Dusie, Eborakon Journal, Erotoplasty, Fur lined Ghettos, Harana
Poetry, НОЖ, HTVN Magazine, Kanstellation Magazine, Magma Poetry, Mercurius Magazine, Moonchild Magazine, Pamenar Press Magazine, Periodicities Journal, Perspektiv, 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, 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, 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, Matthew Haigh, Nial Firth, Vik Shirley, John Kilburn
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, Small Publishers’ Fair, Theatre of Failure, The Poetry Society's Poem-A-Thon, Writers' Centre Kingston Camarade, Xing the Line
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