Sholeh Wolpé

Sholeh Wolpé is an Iranian-born poet, playwright and librettist. About her poems, the Poetry Foundation writes, “Wolpé’s concise, unflinching, and often wry free verse explores violence, culture, and gender.” Named a “2020-2021 Cultural Trailblazer” by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, Wolpé is the recipient of the 2014 PEN/Heim, 2013 Midwest Book Award, 2010 Lois Roth Persian Translation prize as well as artist fellowships and residencies in the U.S., Mexico, Spain, Australia and Switzerland. Her most recent books include Keeping Time With Blue Hyacinth (Univ. of Arkansas Press), and The Conference of the Birds (W.W. Norton). Wolpé’s literary work numbers over twelve collections of poetry, books of translations, and anthologies, as well as several plays. She has performed her literary work with world- renowned musicians nationally and internationally. She has taught poetry and literary translation at UCLA and the University of Maine’s Stonecoast MFA program, and is presently the Writer-in-Residence at University of California, Irvine. She is presently working on an oratorio, The Conference of the Birds, with composer Fahad Siadat. More information: www.sholehwolpe.com Follow her on Twitter or Instagram @Sholeh_Wolpe.