About the Artist

As a writer...
Anna Barnes (she/her) has been writing poetry, short stories, and novels since 2005, after she was immersed in the sixth grade poetry unit by a subpar language arts teacher. Her current work typically involves themes of nature, trauma, feminism, love, and nostalgia. Anna has written two books: a full-length poetry collection called "Out of Ink and Ideas" (2025) and a concept chapbook called "bloom // wilt" (2026), pronounced "bloom break wilt". Her work has been published across a variety of mediums, including in print with The University of Toledo's The Mill Magazine in 2013 and 2014 and in Indy Untitled's Zine [Insert Title Here] in 2025, in video format with Outdoor Voices in an Indoor World in 2025 and 2026, and with expected diVerses Brick & Mortar publication in a Columbus, Ohio storefront in Spring 2026. You can find Anna's poetry books in independent bookstores across Greater Cincinnati and beyond, including Roebling Books & Coffee, Outsiders, Snapdragon Books & Gifts, Household Books, The Hidden Chapter Bookstore, and Spire Book & Coffee Co. You can also request to borrow "bloom // wilt" for free from the Cincinnati Public Library. You might also find Anna’s books hidden in a Little Free Library or two!

As a designer...
Anna began dedicating herself to the arts in a different way in 2013, when she started a summer project to create one piece of Tumblr-esque, totally-cool-and-not-cringey-at-all "lyric art" per day. This summer project extended to a lifetime of practicing digital art and graphic design. Though her lyric artwork project may be on an unofficial pause while she pursues other arts, Anna still uses her digital art skills to create all her own event flyers using Canva. Anna also enjoys designing jewelry out of excess materials and embroidering shirts.

As a performer...
In 2014, Anna was introduced to the world of spoken word and slam poetry through Button Poetry videos. Her favorite artists include Hanif Abdurraqib and Olivia Gatwood. It became Anna's goal to write and perform life-altering poetry that sticks with the audience for the rest of their lives. In May 2024, Anna performed her poem, "On the Moon," at Sherry Cook Stanforth’s Placekeepers Wide Open Mic, an Urban Appalachian Community Coalition (UACC) event at Roebling Books & Coffee. That single event was all Anna needed to create a momentum that led her to self-publishing two books, a number of solitary published works, various invitations to be a featured artist at events, and endless community connections. In just two years, Anna has accomplished what she set out to do: make art that changes lives.

But it doesn't stop there! What can we create together next?