Institute of Contemporary Art Miami ICA Miami

Derived from the Greek word for “description,” ekphrasis is the practice of writing poetry inspired by visual art. In this workshop, we’ll expand that definition by approaching ekphrasis not as writing about artwork, but as writing to, from, and with the work itself.

Through a series of guided prompts and generative writing time, participants will engage with the current exhibitions at ICA Miami to experiment with a range of ekphrastic approaches. Participants will also have the opportunity to contribute a revised poem to a post-workshop zine, extending the conversation between art and text beyond the gallery space.

The workshop will be led by Simone Zapata, a poet, editor, and educator from San José, California. Her work appears in Beloit Poetry Journal, Dilettante Army, Foglifter, Inverted Syntax, and Brink Literary Journal, among others. She’s the recipient of scholarships and fellowships from Community of Writers, Banff Centre, and California Institute of the Arts, where she earned an MFA in creative writing. Simone was the 2025 Poetry Fellow for Miami Book Fair.

Space is limited. Reservations will cost $10/person