Solmaz Sharif

Solmaz Sharif is an acclaimed poet and educator whose debut collection, "LOOK," was a finalist for the National Book Award. Published by Graywolf Press in 2016, the work explores themes of war, language, and power through a distinctive blend of personal and political narratives. Her poetry has appeared in prominent literary journals such as "The New Republic", "Poetry", and "The Kenyon Review", establishing her as a vital voice in contemporary literature.

Born in Istanbul to Iranian parents, Sharif studied at U.C. Berkeley, where she participated in June Jordan’s Poetry for the People program, and later earned a degree from New York University. Her career has been marked by prestigious fellowships, including a Stegner Fellowship, an NEA fellowship, and recognition from the Rona Jaffe Foundation and the Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Foundation. A former managing director of the Asian American Writers’ Workshop, she has also taught at Stanford University. Sharif’s work interrogates the intersections of identity, conflict, and bureaucratic language, cementing her reputation as a poet of both lyrical precision and political urgency.