Todd Boss

Poet

What is Todd Boss known for?

Born on December 6, 1968, in Marshfield, Wisconsin, Todd Ryan Boss is an accomplished American poet, installation artist, film producer and inventor. Boss grew up in rural Wisconsin and pursued his formal education at St. Olaf College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and speech-theater. He furthered his talents in creative writing at the University of Alaska Anchorage, earning a Master of Fine Arts.

Over the years, Boss has made significant contributions to the literary world. His published collections include 'Yellowrocket', 'Pitch', 'Tough Luck', and 'Someday the Plan of a Town'. His poems have been featured in a variety of esteemed outlets including Poetry, the American Poetry Review, The London Times, The New Yorker, and NPR. Boss was awarded the Emily Clark Balch Prize in 2009 by the Virginia Quarterly Review for his collection 'Yellowrocket' and his work 'Pitch' took home the Midwest Booksellers' Choice Award in 2012.

Boss's talent is not limited to the written word. He has worked as an installation artist, creating impactful works such as a memorable 2012 tribute to the victims of a bridge collapse in Minneapolis. He has also embarked on monumental poetry film projections, such as the one displayed on the facade of the historic Union Depot in Saint Paul, Minnesota in 2014. His public art projects are diverse and include collaborations with the Dakota artist Marlena Myles.

As an author of poetry for musical setting, Boss has often collaborated with the composer Jake Runestad. Together, they produced the 'Earth Symphony' for chorus and orchestra, which won an Emmy in the category of musical composition. Boss also founded a poetry film company, Motionpoems, which operated between 2008 and 2020, producing over 150 short adaptions of poetry.

Despite his non-traditional path and varied pursuits, Todd Boss remains a proud alumnus of Marshfield High School in Wisconsin. You can discover more about his work and his journey on his personal website.