Robin Coste Lewis

About the Author

Robin Coste Lewis is an acclaimed poet, artist, and scholar whose work explores the intersections of race, gender, history, and memory with profound lyricism and unflinching insight. Born in Compton, California, she holds an MFA in poetry from NYU and a PhD in poetry and visual studies from USC, where she served as the Poet Laureate. Her debut collection, Voyage of the Sable Venus: and Other Poems, won the National Book Award for Poetry in 2015, cementing her status as a vital voice in contemporary American literature. Drawing from archival sources, personal narrative, and visual art, Lewis's poetry reimagines the Black female experience, challenging erasure and reclaiming narratives with elegance and power. She has received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the NEA, and her work has appeared in outlets like The New Yorker and Poetry magazine, influencing a new generation of writers and thinkers.