John Ashbery

Date of Birth: July 28, 1927

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Date of Death: September 3, 2017

Biography

John Ashbery was an American poet renowned for his complex, multi-layered, and innovative approach to poetry. He was born on July 28, 1927, in Rochester, New York. Ashbery’s work is often associated with the New York School of poets, which included other luminaries such as Frank O’Hara and Kenneth Koch. His poetry is known for its enigmatic, stream-of-consciousness style and frequent use of abstract and ambiguous language. Ashbery’s career began to gain significant recognition with the publication of his 1975 collection, “Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror,” which won the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the National Book Critics Circle Award. His prolific output includes over 20 volumes of poetry, as well as essays, translations, and plays. Ashbery’s influence extends beyond poetry into the broader cultural and artistic spheres. He has been cited as an inspiration by numerous contemporary poets and artists. Ashbery passed away on September 3, 2017, in Hudson, New York.

5 Interesting Facts about John Ashbery

1. John Ashbery was a Fulbright Scholar and studied in France, which greatly influenced his poetic style.

2. He was the first living poet to have a collection of his work published by the Library of America.

3. Ashbery’s poem “Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror” was inspired by the Mannerist painting of the same name by Parmigianino.

4. He won nearly every major American award for poetry, including the Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, and National Book Critics Circle Award.

5. Ashbery was also an art critic and wrote for various publications including Art News and New York magazine.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from John Ashbery

1. “The poem is sad because it wants to be yours, and cannot be.”

2. “Most reckless things are beautiful in some way, and recklessness is what makes experimental art beautiful.”

3. “The experience of reading a poem is not unlike that of travelling in a foreign country. It is sometimes difficult to understand what is happening, and you may feel lost.”

4. “More and more I have the feeling that we are getting nowhere. Slowly.”

5. “We never live; we are always in the expectation of living.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The highest net worth achieved by John Ashbery is not widely documented. However, it is estimated to be in the vicinity of $1-5 million, primarily from book sales, awards, and teaching positions.