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Casey Garfield is a poet, publisher and pal based in Exeter (UK).
Casey Garfield is a queer poet based in and in love with Exeter. They are the author of ‘hi hello I love you, my name is Casey Garfield’ (Ghost City Press), ‘stories in which’ (Salo Press) and New TikTok Account’ (Broken Sleep Books) in addition to various zines through Platonic Kisses, a self-publishing imprint of their independent publishing project Placeholder Press.
Their work has appeared in publications such as McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, Maudlin House and Ink, Sweat & Tears. As the winner of the UNESCO City of Literature City Slam, they are representing Exeter in Slamovision 2026.
Casey Garfield previously wrote under another name in their hometown of Norwich. Focused on bringing poetry to any audience it may resonate with, they performed reading at libraries, arts centres, festivals, punk shows in living rooms, and drag shows in the back room of a nacho restaurant alike. Their poems were published in literary magazines, diy zines, as posters, as badges, on stickers, and sold in vending machines at a local bar.
In 2023 they retired their old name and body of work by holding a funeral for their former name, during which they performed a final reading as their old identity before having the audience shoot them to death with party poppers, follow a pre-prepared poetry ritual to channel the immortal spirit of queer joy and poetry into their body, and were revived as Casey Garfield.
Casey continues their former name's focus on bringing poetry to broad audiences, having held writing workshops for schools and charities across Norfolk, for Exeter Pride and Exeter Trans Pride, and for the NHS Wellbeing Service. They also organise more relaxed community gatherings they call "uneventful events", such as 'Lay down in the grass and say what clouds look like with Casey Garfield' and 'Eat 100 satsumas with Casey Garfield'.
Informed by their experiences of ongoing recovery from long covid, Casey’s recent practice focuses on exploring health and rest, sharing queer joy, and celebrating comfort and tenderness wherever it can be found or made. They are currently campaigning to be the Bard of Exeter.
"Never before have I read poetry so hilariously raw and aggressively lovely. This is the non-toxic, honest optimism we need to tackle this world. Casey Garfield is a star in the making."
- Cathleen Davies
“Casey Garfield is good at holding hands: with friends, with lovers, with readers. I can't really express the delight I felt as I was told stories about werewolves, Taco Bell cashiers, and portraits who long to see the sky. But the closest I can get is the feeling of holding hands with people I love and hearing their stories: that's what is marvellous here, how gently we are picked up and put down again after each poem."
- Lewis Buxton
"Seems lovely but not the tone of the event I'm sorry to say. Would you like to suggest another poet or shall I?"
- SJ Fowler
"One of the most exciting writers I know."
- L Scully
"I took Casey Garfield's poetry to the hospital accompanying a friend, just in case an opportunity arose for it to help. It didn't, but I know that it would have helped. Their poems are a deeply positive experience."
- Natalie Ayres