1. Olivia Gatwood
Frequently featured on Button Poetry, Olivia Gatwood explores the feminine experience in American culture. Her pieces are delivered powerfully with captivating sarcasm and whit. From an ode to bubblegum-pink blush to the darker piece, “Backpedal,” Gatwood’s work emphasizes the cruelties of human experience and their role in her own life. Her book, "New American Best Friend", can be purchased on Amazon here. Whether it be listening to her features on Button Poetry's website or reading her poetry firsthand, Gatwood's tone, finesse, and individuality is guaranteed to blow you away2. Sarah Bahbah
While fairly popular on Instagram, I cannot resist featuring Sarah Bahbah in this list, given the uniqueness of her work. Sarah Bahbah combines visually alluring photographic composition with women in realistic contexts. Not only are her subjects granted prowess and desire without catering to the hypersexualized scope of feminine sexuality, but they are empowered as well. Bahbah pairs her photographs with simple, yet resounding, phrases that redefine female sexuality as something maintained by self-assured women that can easily love themselves without a suitor. From inhaling pasta to pondering a man’s obsession, Bahbah’s photo series is humorous, provocative, and worth every follow. Her site can be found here, and her Instagram can be followed here.
3. Guante
Also featured on Button Poetry, Guante tackles a multitude of social issues such as white supremacy, hypermasculinity, and modern activism. His spoken performances are riveting as he intertwines humor with relevant perspectives on pressing matters that not only reaffirm their importance, but persuade an audience to assume his position-- even if only for the duration of his piece. His book can be purchased here, and his website can be found here.
4. Tomasita Rodriguez
Popular on Instagram for their incredible sketches, Tomasita Rodriguez is talented beyond belief. Their pieces garner applause for their other-worldly twist on human subjects. From hand-sculpted and painted pendants to doodles, Rodriguez offers intersectionality to modern art — stay tuned for their website as it is in the process of being made! In the meantime, be sure to follow them on Instagram and buy a few of their adorable pendants.
5. Nayyirah Waheed
Combining lessons about self-image and personal growth with poetry, Nayyirah Waheed’s success is wholly credited to her ability to transform wisdom into art. Waheed’s poetry is formatted to give the reader pause in order to digest each line conveying messages about self-love, well-being, and humanity. Championing the strength in softness and the admirability of resilience, Nayyirah Waheed’s poetry is the narrative about self-care and assuredness that every young person deserves. You can purchase her books nejma and salt. through Amazon. Be sure to follow her Instagram here for daily doses of her work.
6. Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib
Discussing relevant matters such as race in America, Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib delivers powerful spoken poetry performances that demand attention. With a gripping vocabulary and the unique ability to tell a story that contributes to a larger message, Willis-Abdurraqib offers insight and necessary attention towards the often ignored cultural implications and disadvantages of black identity in the United States. Purchase his book,
"The Crown Ain’t Worth Much," here for Hanif’s lyrical contributions to the growing discussions of race and American identity.
7. Bronwyn Lorelei
Through sketches, embroidery, and other mediums, Bronwyn Lorelei depicts femininity unconventionally. Her drawings depict the gruesome aspects of beauty, shattering the overwhelming expectation of feminine attributes to remain palatable and alluring at all times; yet, Lorelei simultaneously emphasizes that conventionality is not required for a woman to be enticing. Lorelei’s subjects are provocative, mutant-like women with body hair and sexuality, existing without male gratification. Bronwyn’s Instagram is dedicated to showcasing a woman as raw, rather than manufactured by societal expectations, which is definitely why you should follow her on Instagram and purchase her work here.
