Niloufar Talebi

Creative Nonfiction Writer

Author's Bio

Niloufar Talebi is an author, award-winning translator, and multidisciplinary creator. Her books include the anthology Belonging: New Poetry by Iranians Around the World (North Atlantic Books, 2008), Self-Portrait in Bloom memoir (l'Aleph, 2019), and Elegies of the Earth: Selected Poems by Ahmad Shamlou (World Poetry Books, 2025). Her performance projects include Abraham in Flames opera, ICARUS/RISE, The Persian Rite of Spring, Fire Angels, and Epiphany. Her distinctions include a Fulbright U.S. Scholar fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts award, and artist residencies at Art Omi and the Kennedy Center. She teaches Creative Writing and Creativity at Stanford Continuing Studies, and is the founder of Creative Intelligence. www.niloufartalebi.com  

Education: 
Bennington Writing Seminars at Bennington College MFA
Writers Retreats: 
Art Omi Writers Residency

Publications & Prizes

Books:
Self-Portrait in Bloom (l'Aleph, 2019)
,
Belonging: New Poetry by Iranians Around the World (North Atlantic Books, 2008)
Prizes won: 

Fulbright U.S. Scholar (2021-2022)
New Music USA (2017)
National Endowment for the Arts (Opera Project) (2017)
Creative Work Fund (2016)
Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation (2016)
California Arts Council (2016)
San Francisco Arts Commission Individual Artist Grant (2014-2022) 
Center for Cultural Innovation (2014-2020)
Belonging: New Poetry by Iranians Around the World nominated for the Northern California Book Award (2008)
PEN American Center / NYSCA “Anthology in Translation" Award (2007)
American Literary Translators Association Fellowship (2005)
Willis Barnstone Translation Prize (2005)
International Center for Writing and Translation Prize (2004)

 

Watch

Personal Favorites

Favorite authors: 
Natalia Ginzburg, Christa Wolf, Annie Ernaux, Ahmad Shamlou, Forough Farrokhzad, Anaïs Nin, Marguerite Duras, Violette Leduc, Thomas Bernhard
What I'm reading now: 
The Unexpurgated Diaries of Anaïs Nin by Anaïs Nin, My Autobiography of Carson McCullers: A Memoir by Jenn Shapland, Poetry by Ahmad Shamlou by Ahmad Shamlou , A Place to Live by Natalia Ginzburg

More Information

Gives readings: 
Yes
Travels for readings: 
Yes
Prefers to work with: 
Any
Fluent in: 
English, Persian
Born in: 
London
United Kingdom
Raised in: 
Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the listed writers or their representatives.
Last update: Jul 09, 2025