Exhibitions

Poets House’s exhibitions focus on the physical and visual manifestation of poetry as well as works by visual artists that correspond to the poetic impulse. Our exhibitions typically feature manuscripts, books, artwork, and other materials that shed light on the long history of cross-pollination between poetry and the visual arts, the physical beauty of the book, and the creative process.

Our Cheney Chappell Exhibition Space, a glassed-in, airy space at the entrance to the Margo Viscusi Reading Room, is stocked with museum-quality vitrines that host displays of visually stunning poetry, art, and archival materials. Our Reading Room and other spaces are also home to a more informal display of some of Poets House’s art collection, including a number of Philip Guston poem-pictures inspired by Poets House co-founder Stanley Kunitz, paintings by Elise Asher and Mary Frank, and framed broadsides by Rita Dove, Derek Walcott, and others. The writing desk of E. E. Cummings is permanently on view as well.