Poetry In Fairfax

Through the designation of a Fairfax County Poet Laureate, ArtsFairfax celebrates and supports a poet to raise the visibility of poetry, engage new audiences, and encourage the creation of poetry and other literary works in the Northern Virginia community.

The Fairfax County Poet Laureate program recognizes a professional poet’s achievements and their demonstrated history of accomplishments; promotes a professional poet’s continued pursuit of creative work; and creates new opportunities for the Poet Laureate to connect with Fairfax County communities through the sharing of poetry. The Fairfax County Poet Laureate is a distinguished appointment that highlights the importance of poetry and literary arts in Fairfax County.

Meet Angelique Palmer, 2024-2027 Fairfax County Poet Laureate

Angelique Palmer is a performance poet and kindergarten teacher. A Spoken Word instructor at Wilkes University Maslow Family Creative Writing Graduate Program, Ms. Palmer was the 5^th-ranked woman poet in the world in 2015 and is currently ranked 19th among the top 96 poets in the world.

After 10 self-published chapbooks, Ms. Palmer’s first full-length book, The Chambermaid’s Style Guide, debuted on Sargent Press in 2016. Her second book is the 2021 follow-up Also Dark on Etruscan Press. Honored to be a part of such anthologies as The Queer Cookies Poetry Cookbook, and Sign & Breath: Voice and the Literary Tradition, she has also published online in Drunk in A Midnight Choir; Wus Good?: A POC Magazine; Borderline; and The Mud Review.

The New Orleans native and Florida State University Creative Writing graduate has called Virginia home since 2010 and Fairfax County home since 2017. She makes her own ice cream, shares kindness freely, and never hesitates to bond with anyone over “The Golden Girls.”