Sophie Ellen Kautenburger

Sophie Ellen is a queer poet and visual artist currently based in New York City. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bard College, where she graduated summa cum laude in 2022 and was awarded the Bard College Poetry Prize. She recently completed her Master of Fine Arts in Poetry, along with a Certificate in German Literary Translation, at Columbia University.

Sophie's work has been supported by several honors, including the Dean’s Travel Grant from Columbia University, as well as the Denis Diderot Grant and Emerging Artist Grant from Château d'Orquevaux. During her time at Columbia, she served as a site coordinator for the Columbia Artists/Teachers program, an Artist’s Resource Center Fellow, and the Art Editor for Columbia Journal.

As an educator, Sophie is committed to inclusive, interdisciplinary pedagogical practices. She has facilitated and coordinated poetry workshops across New York City, most recently in collaboration with the National Alliance on Mental Illness. In Fall 2025, she will join the faculty of Columbia University as an adjunct assistant professor of Creative Writing.

Sophie is currently traveling in Iceland on a creative research grant. Her current poetic project explores ecological and symbiotic models observed in lichen growth, and investigates the historical, cultural, and botanical dimensions of the color green. This body of work will culminate in a handmade artist book, integrating woven and painted materials, in Fall 2025.