CUHK Artist-in-Residence 2025

Forrest Gander (1956 – ) is a distinguished American poet, author, translator and interdisciplinary collaborator whose work bridges the worlds of literature, science, and the arts. Born in the Mojave Desert in California, Gander holds degrees in geology and English literature, a background that shapes his writing’s deep engagement with place, ecology, and human connection.

Gander is the author of numerous award-winning books of poetry, fiction, and translation. His collection Be With won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. Other notable works include Twice Alive, the desert novel The Trace, and his recent poetry collection Mojave Ghost. His writing is known for its formal innovation and emotional depth, often exploring themes of ecology and intimacy.

As a translator, Gander has introduced major works to audiences, including Alice Iris Red Horse: Poems by Gozo Yoshimasu and Then Come Back: The Lost Neruda Poems. Several of his own books have been translated into Chinese by Li Dong and published by East China Normal University Press. Gander’s collaborative projects span visual arts, photography, dance, and music, with artists such as Ann Hamilton, Sally Mann, Eiko & Koma, Cao Fei, among others.

He has taught at Harvard University and was named the A.K. Seaver Professor of Literary Arts and Comparative Literature at Brown University, where he offered courses in Poetry & Ethics, EcoPoetics, Latin American Literature, and Translation Theory. His collaborative book with Australian poet/activist John Kinsella, Redstart: An Ecological Poetics, is frequently cited by scholars and writers in reference to “eco-poetics.” Gander’s honours include fellowships from the Library of Congress, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the US Artists foundation.

As the 2025 CUHK Artist-in-Residence, Forrest Gander brings a unique vision to the intersection of art and cross-cultural dialogues.