I am a poet, writer, performance artist and instructor who explores the absurd as well as the necessary to give voice to process, experimentation, and discovery.
The core of my work is a belief that art and community can transcend traditional categorizations and encompass a wide range of artistic practices.
I believe that the boundaries between art forms is fluid. Artists can draw inspiration from and collaborate across multiple disciplines to influence and enrich each other’s creative process and practice.
Nicelle Davis is a California poet, collaborator, and performance artist. Her poetry collections include The Language of Fractions (Moon Tide Press 2023). The Walled Wife (Red Hen Press, 2016), In the Circus of You (Rose Metal Press, 2015), Becoming Judas (Red Hen Press, 2013), and Circe (Lowbrow Press, 2011). Penguin Noir recently won the Changing Light Novel in Verse Prize from Livingston Press and will be released Summer of 2025. Her poetry film collaborations with Cheryl Gross have been shown across the world. She has taught poetry at Youth for Positive Change, an organization that promotes success for youth in secondary schools, MHA, Volunteers of America in their Homeless Youth Center, Red Hen’s WITS program, and with MEP. She currently teaches Middle School in the High Desert.
This video was made with the help and support of: Anthony M Sannazzaro, Director and Mike O'Connor, Storytelling Coach.
Selected C.V.
POETRY COLLECTIONS
Penguin Noir, Livingston Press, AL, June, 2025
The Language of Fractions, Moon Tide Press, CA, September, 2023
The Walled-Up Wife, Red Hen Press, Pasadena, CA, April, 2016
In the Circus of You, Rose Metal Press, Brookline, MA, March, 2014
Becoming Judas, Red Hen Press, January, 2013
Circe, Lowbrow Press / H_NGM_N Books, October, 2011
POETRY CHAPBOOKS
Elephants, Business Bear Press, Van Nuys, CA, August, 2017
POETRY PUBLICATIONS
"The Dying: What does heaven look like to plants?" 2River, 2023
“Will flowers grow if they’re watered with tears or blood?” Broadside, 2023
“—This Poem Isn’t Finished” Lucky Jefferson, 2023
“Ars/Ours: Honey Pot” Rattle, 2023
“After Coffee with My Nurse Friend” Rattle, Fall 2018
“The Middle School Scab Eater” Slab Magazine, 2010
“1970,” “Jesus Judas Boys,” “When I was a Boy,” and “The Woman Who Cut Judas Down” PANK, Fall 2009
ANTHOLOGIES
PLAYS
Course Content, Fringe Festival, The Other Space, Hollywood, California, 2023
The Walled Wife, City Garage Theater, Santa Monica, California, 2016
The Walled Wife, Academy of Style, Lancaster, California, 2016
On the Island of Caliban, Boston Court Performing Arts Center, Pasadena, California, October 21, 2015
On the Island of Caliban, The Edison, Los Angeles, California, November 4, 2015
On the Island of Caliban, Underground Street Theater, Antelope Valley, California 2015
Being Human, Antelope Valley College, Lancaster, California, 2005
Hamster, Antelope Valley College, Lancaster, California 2005
Fish Bowl, Antelope Valley College, Lancaster, California 2004
BOOK REVIEWS AND INTERVIEWS
Nicelle Davis | Rattlecast 179
Jeremy Ra & Nicelle Davis: SoCal Poets Conversation
Open Forum #3: Nicelle Davis | Water + Walls
MOAH ON THE MOVE HOSTED BY NICELLE DAVIS
Art Hustle Presents Artists in Conversation with Cheryl Gross & Nicelle Davis The Poster Reads
EDITORIAL PROJECTS
The Living Poetry Project, Creator / Poetry Editor, 2009-current
Los Angeles Review, Editor at Large, 2013-2015
Connotations Press Poetry Editor, 2001-2013
Ellipsis…Literature and Art, Westminster College, Reader, Spring 2001
POETRY FILMS AND COLLABORATIONS
Commit to Memory: The Precipice of Extinction, with Cheryl Gross, 2019
The Poster Reads, with Cheryl Gross and Willard Grant Conspiracy, 2016
Things, with Karyn Ben Singer, 2015
In the Circus of You, with Cheryl Gross and Karl Preusser, 2015
In the Circus of You (book trailer), with Cheryl Gross and Karl Preusser 2015
The Walled-Up Wife Retold, with Joseph West and Jason Hughes, 2012
Becoming Judas, with Cheryl Gross, Karl Preusser, Pavlina Janssen, and Denis Mecham
Circe, with Cheryl Gross and Karl Preusser, 2011
Cuba and Coltrane, with Dave Bonta, 2011
MOST RESENT POETRY FILM FESTIVALS AND AWARDS
Like Festival Of Contemporary Literature, Kosice, Slovakia 2017
Festival Silêncio, Lisbon, Portugal 2017
JUTEBACK Poetry Film Festival 2017
Zebra Poetry Film Festival, Berlin, Germany, 2016
Ó Bhéal Poetry Film Competition, Competition Winner, Cork, Ireland, 2015
Open Air Short Film Festival, Dot Dot Dot, Vienna, Austria, 2015
Cooler Lumpur 2015, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2015
Stadthaus Poetry Fesitval, 2015, Münster, Germany, 2015
Freies (Free) Museum, Berlin, Germany, 2015
International Poetry film festival, Oslo, Norway, 2015
POETRY FESTIVAL PRODUCER / ORGANIZER
The Poetry Circus, Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round, Los Angeles, California, 2015-2019
Nevermore Poetry Festival, Van Nuys City Hall, Van Nuys, California, 2017
Poetry Protest Postcards, Beyond Baroque, California, 2017-2018
READINGS
Deena Metzger and Nicelle Davis May 22, 2022
Poets House (with Gregory Orr) New York, New York