Brimhall brings poetry to life as Guggenheim 2025 Poet-in-Residence

Traci Brimhall, university distinguished professor of English and current Kansas poet laureate, has been selected as the 2025 Poet-in-Residence at the Guggenheim New York. | Download this photo.

By Emily Boragine
K‑State News and Communications Services

When Traci Brimhall, university distinguished professor of English at Kansas State University, thinks of museums, she envisions them as spaces for dreaming, creating and being. Now, as the selected 2025 Poet-in-Residence at the Guggenheim New York, she can bring her visions for poetry and visual arts to life.

Brimhall's appointment as Poet-in-Residence at the Guggenheim, in partnership with the Academy of American Poets, acknowledges her contributions as a poet and educator, bridging poetry and the arts.

“I’m ecstatic to join the Guggenheim this year and plan programming that unites the visual and literary arts!” says Brimhall. “There will be several parts of the residency, including poetry postcards for all museum patrons, activities in the Guggenheim’s Aye Simon Reading Room and staged evening events in the fall.”

Brimhall, the current Kansas poet laureate, is a nationally recognized poet and nonfiction writer. Her creative and scholarly work includes authoring five poetry collections — including the recently published "Love Prodigal" from Copper Canyon Press — more than 100 individual published poems and essays, and more than 150 readings.

Brimhall serves as the director of K-State's creative writing program, teaching both undergraduate and graduate-level writing courses. She is recognized as an innovative and influential educator, often integrating student learning with real-life experiences. In 2024, she was awarded the title of university distinguished professor, the highest faculty title given by the university.

“Traci’s selection as Poet-in-Residence at the Guggenheim is a remarkable achievement that underscores the profound influence of her writing on our culture and society,” said Hans Coetzee, interim vice president for research. “We are proud and fortunate to count her among our faculty at K-State.”

Brimhall’s work often explores themes of myth, memory and the human experience. The Guggenheim residency provides a platform for her to continue integrating poetry with other art forms. The initiative aims to enhance public engagement with the museum and foster a sense of community.

“Sometimes I apply for things without any realistic hopes that I might get them,” Brimhall said. “I’ve always seen it as an exercise in dreaming, but dreams can’t knock if you don’t build the door.”

In addition to her work in the Big Apple, Brimhall is collaborating with the Museum of Art + Light in Manhattan, Kansas. From 6-9 p.m. on April 24, Brimhall and her students will lead poetry activities for the public, offering an opportunity for local residents to engage with poetry and visual arts.

Brimhall's poetry has appeared in prestigious journals and national publications, including Ploughshares, New England Review, American Poetry Review, The New Yorker, The New York Times and The Nation. Brimhall has given public poetry readings across the U.S. and internationally, including the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., the Bowery Poetry Club in New York City and the American Library in Paris, France.

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