Rupi Kaur

Rupi Kaur is an Indian-Canadian poet, author, and illustrator of South Asian descent currently based in Toronto. Kaur’s works focus on themes of woman power, romance, loss, trauma and healing. Her debut collection of poetry and illustrated prose, Milk and Honey, chronicles the journey of a young woman as she bravely confronts hardship, love, and loss.

Born in Punjab, India, Kaur immigrated with her family to Brampton, Ontario, in 1994. Growing up in an Indian-Canadian home, Kaur faced many struggles in her early years. Despite these challenges, Kaur sought solace in her pen and paper, turning her pain into art. Through reading and writing, Kaur discovered sincerity, strength and a deeper understanding of herself.

Kaur’s poetry is unique in that it is minimalistic. As she stated in an interview with Time magazine, “I think poetry has been so romanticized as something beautiful and flowery, but it doesn’t always have to be just metaphors and pretty words.” Her poems often consist of terse, direct lines that explore themes like femininity and empowerment, grief, love and violence.

In 2014, Kaur’s debut collection of poetry and illustrated prose, Milk and Honey, was released and became an international bestseller. The collection consists of four chapters: The Hurting, The Loving, The Breaking and The Healing. Through poignant observations, Kaur recounts her experiences in dealing with sexual violence, body image, femininity and finding her place in society. Her book has sold over one million copies in the United States and is the bestselling poetry book of the year, according to the New York Times Best Sellers list.

In 2015, Kaur independently released her second collection The Sun and Her Flowers. Drawing parallels between natural cycles and personal growth, The Sun and Her Flowers follows the same four part structure as Milk and Honey while exploring different themes such as womanhood and identity. In the same year, Kaur released a collection of her illustrations Living Wine Labels suggesting that wine labels portray the expressions of a woman’s life journey and different stages in a story.

In 2017, Kaur released her debut children’s book, The Creative Curve. A motivational tale that celebrates the power of creativity and encourages every reader to find their own “creative curve”, the book explains that even in the midst of doubt and critique, a person should trust their instinct, pursue their passion and be who they are.

Kaur has also written and published a third collection of poetry and illustration, The Time, analyzing the many attachments of love, notably the cycle of pain and ultimate healing.

Rupi Kaur is a powerful artist and outspoken advocate for many social justice causes. She draws attention to systemic and gender-based violence while advocating for mental health awareness and allyship. Through her work, Kaur has transformed perceptions around gender roles, identity, and power. As she stated in her TEDx talk, “It took me years of shedding my family’s expectations and society’s expectations before I could realize my own limitations and find my true voice.”

Rupi Kaur is an incredibly influential artist, poet and advocate for social justice. Through her works, she encourages people to be brave, kind, and compassionate in order to foster change and create a future of acceptance and understanding.