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dream laborer poet for hire artist and curator publisher dream punk published writer the Wanderer
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photo by Nikki Volpicelli, for JUMP Magazine
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Beyond these community events, as a full time performer, Kavanaugh creates stream-of-subconscious inspired poetry on demand for the general public as Dream Poet For Hire. Equipped with a Smith-Corona Skyriter, he sets up in public spaces around Philadelphia and writes on-the-spot poems on any topic. He has published two collections of short stories, several small chapbooks of travel fiction, and two collections of haikus with the small press, A Freedom Books. His most recent poetry book, Travel By Haiku: Volumes 6-10, Far Out On The Road With Friends (released March 2021) is a modern ode to the community found on the road, with collaborative haikus written by six navigators of its far reaches over the course of three separate road trips.
He has performed and had his work exhibited in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Currents New Media Festival, MoMA PS1, The Paseo Taos Arts Festival, Delaware Center for Contemporary Art, Space 1026, and Vox Populi, as well as other cultural spaces around the country. He is the resident writer of The Dream Oven art salon since 2011 and was an active member of the Philadelphia art collective/gallery, Little Berlin, from 2012-2014. In 2017, he began curating at the Taos, NM collective and new media gallery, Parse Seco.
He currently divides his time between travel and writing a novel about the first trip he took out to the West Coast. When he is not on the road he usually can be found in the Philadelphia area with his two cats building large TV installations.
CV
b. 1987
SOLO & SMALL GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Ongoing
“Barnes on the Block: Art Installation” Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia PA
“Art at PHL: pop-ups” Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia PA
“Art-ish Art Gala” Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia PA
“Philadelphia Orchestra: Poetry On Demand” Highmark Mann Center, Philadelphia PA
“Teen Arts Festival: What’s Blooming? Art Installation & Workshop” Burlington County Schools, NJ
“Art After Dark Festival: Art Installation” Smithville Historic Village, Eastampton NJ
“Atop An Underwood Reading” Philly Typewriter, Philadelphia PA
2026
“Dream Here Now!, exhibtion” Space 1026, Philadelphia PA
“Writing An Obituary: Workshop” Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia PA
“West Philly Earth Walk” curated walk in Philadelphia PA
“School of Monumaking Summit: Typewriter Poetry” Monument Lab, Philadelphia PA
“Recharge Park Ribbon-cutting: Typewriter Poetry” King of Prussia PA
“Nick Virgilio Graveside Reading, performer” Harleigh Cemetery, Camden NJ
2025
“Governor Matt Meyer’s Inaugural Ball” The Queen Theater, Wilmington DE
“Poe Party: Personalized Poetry” Free Library, Philadelphia PA
“Valentine’s Day Skate: Typewriter Poetry” Independence Blue Cross Riverrink, Philadelphia PA
“Speak Freely Speakeasy: Typewriter Poetry” National Liberty Museum, Philadelphia PA
“Golden Voice, Movie: Performed as Myself” Philadelphia PA
“Dream Here Now!, Exhibition” Abyssinia, Philadelphia PA
“Earth Day: Dream Seed Workshop” National Liberty Museum, Philadelphia PA
“Mystic Movement, Exhibition” Sera Phi, Philadelphia PA
“Ramboree Spring Fest: Typewriter Poetry” West Chester University, PA
“Buck Moon on Fire, Performance” Pentridge Station, Philadelphia PA
“Museum Explorers Family Day: This Earthen Door” Brandywine Museum of Art, Chadds Ford PA
“Declare Your Liberty Community Poem, Exhibition” Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia PA
“Fall Fest: Poetry On Demand” Colorado State University, Fort Collins CO
“The Dream Is Nigh!, Play” Fringe Fest, Philadelphia PA
“Illumination & Libations Gala: Typewriter Poetry” Michener Art Museum, Doylestown PA
“Masquerade Ball: Typewriter Poetry” Glen Foerd, Philadelphia PA
2024
“Dream Zine Workshop” Brandywine Museum of Art, Chadds Ford, PA
“PECO Free First Sunday: Poetry On Demand” Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia PA
“Taken By The Sky: Photo Exhibition” Unique Photo, Philadelphia PA
“Valentines Day: Center City District Happy Hour” Dilworth Park, Philadelphia PA
“Art & Coffee Break: Galley Exhibit” Annex Gallery, Historic Smithville Park, Easstampton NJ
“Philly ASAP: Word Scrabble” Free Library, Philadelphia PA
“Spring Fest: Poetry On Demand” Colorado State University, Fort Collins CO
“Author Talk/Haiku Workshop” Falls of Schuylkill Library, Philadelphia PA
“Earth Day: Dream Seeds Workshop” American Swedish Historical Museum, Philadelphia PA
“Poetry Gumball Machine Celebration” Museum of Art In Wood, Philadelphia PA
“Germantown Readathon” Braid Mills, Philadelphia PA
“Monument Lab: Declare Your Liberty, art installation” Independence Hall Visitor Center, Philadelphia PA
“Members Night: Poetry On Demand” Mt. Cuba Center, Greenville DE
“Weirdo Fest: Typewriter Poetry” East Kensington Neighborhood Arts, Philadelphia PA
“Wedding Crashers Ball: Typewriter Poetry” Glen Foerd, Philadelphia PA
“Harnwell Hall: Fall Fest” University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA
“Daybreaker: Party To The Polls with Bill Nye” City Hall, Philadelphia PA
2023
“Wall Ball” Mural Arts, Philadelphia PA
“People’s Budget Office: Dream Seed Factory” Mural Arts at City Hall, Philadelphia PA
“Write a May Day Folktale" Community Poem with Eric Cesar Morales (of Philly Folklore Project), art installation” Cesar Andreu Iglesias Community Garden
“House Party” Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia PA
“Presenter for MFA class on Guerilla Poetrics with Yolanda Wisher” Temple University, Philadelphia PA
“Young Professional’s Night: Moonlit” Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia PA
“Circles Soiree” Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia PA
2022
“Past/Forward” Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia PA
“PC Now 2022: The Art of Care” Philadelphia Contemporary, Philadelphia PA
“These Jawns Vote” New Voices of Reproductive Justice, Philadelphia PA
“Wawa Presents: Our America Now” The Oval XP, Philadelphia PA
“Indie Philly Artists Fundraising Concert” Hip Hop Foundation, Philadelphia PA
“Healing Verse Poetry Line” Philadelphia Contemporary, Philadelphia PA
“Tianguis Cultural: Dream Seeds” Cesar Andreu Iglesias Community Gardens, Philadelphia PA
“WAP Party” Philadelphia Contemporary, Philadelphia PA
“PECO Free First Sunday: A Love Letter To West Philly” Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia PA
2021
"Live At The Writers House on WXPN" Kelly Writers House, Philadelphia PA
"Everyday Places Artist Partnership: West Philly Community Poem" The Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia PA
"Mural Arts and Wawa Present: Barnes on the Block" The Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia PA
"from the BEATS to the BEATNIK" The Beatnik Lounge, Joshua Tree CA
"Grass Colors – Paintings + Bikes" Tulla-Realschule, Mannheim, Germany
2020
"Uncharted Waters" Havertown Community Action Network, Philadelphia PA
"Street Poets: Live Typewritten Art" 1455 Summer Literary Festival, Winchester VA
"The Poetry of Strangers – Typewriter Parade" Book Soup, Los Angeles CA
2018
"ManifeSTATION Station: Give The River A Voice" The PASEO, Taos NM
"Libraries, curated by Little Berlin" The Front, New Orleans LA
"Dreams By Request" Currents New Media Festival, Santa Fe NM
"A Poem Is Where The Heart Is..." curator, Parse Seco, Taos NM
2017
"Poets and Unicorns" The PASEO, Taos NM
2016
"Natural Tendencies" Anetra Studio, Denver CO
"March Forth" Martha Street Mummers Museum, Philadelphia PA
"Peripheral Surveillance" #TheWrong New Media Festival, University of the Arts, Philadelphia PA
2014
"The Dream Oven: A Retrospective" curator, Little Berlin, Philadelphia PA
"Between The Act & Motion" Artscape, Baltimore MD
"Plato's Porno Cave - The Trial" curator, Little Berlin, Philadelphia PA
"Year of the Gewgaw" Collage Fest, Philadelphia PA
"Little White Cubes" curator, Delaware Center for Contemporary Arts, Wilmington DE
2013
"Fort Thunder Attacks...again!" Space 1026, Philadelphia PA
"All Of CITYWIDE" Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia PA
"Limits and Demonstrations: A Lula Chamberlain Retrospective" curator, Little Berlin, Philadelphia PA
"Plato's Porno Cave - The New World" curator, Little Berlin, Philadelphia PA
2012
"HUNG" Little Berlin, Philadelphia PA
"Bruce High Quality Foundation presents Bruceforma 2012" MoMA PS1, Queens NY
"Plato's Porno Cave - A Dream Symposium" curator, Little Berlin, Philadelphia PA
2011
"Carnivale de Arcanum" curator, VWVOFFKA, Philadelphia PA
2010
"Soundoffka vol. 2" VWVOFFKA, Philadelphia PA
"Small Objects" curator, VWVOFFKA, Philadelphia PA
"Concrete, etc" curator, VWVOFFKA, Philadelphia PA
"Soundoffka vol. 1" VWVOFFKA, Philadelphia PA
RESIDENCIES
The Barnes Foundation and People's Emergency Center
Everyday Places Artist Parnership, Philadelphia PA - August 2021-February 2022
https://www.pec-cares.org/barneswest.html
Parse Seco, Taos NM; March - May 2018
http://www.parseseco.com/artist-residency--show-submissions.html
368 Ponce, Atlanta GA; April - May 2017
http://www.368ponce.com/
The Holy Underground, Baltimore MD; February 2016
http://theholyunderground.tumblr.com/
b. 1987
SOLO & SMALL GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Ongoing
“Barnes on the Block: Art Installation” Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia PA
“Art at PHL: pop-ups” Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia PA
“Art-ish Art Gala” Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia PA
“Philadelphia Orchestra: Poetry On Demand” Highmark Mann Center, Philadelphia PA
“Teen Arts Festival: What’s Blooming? Art Installation & Workshop” Burlington County Schools, NJ
“Art After Dark Festival: Art Installation” Smithville Historic Village, Eastampton NJ
“Atop An Underwood Reading” Philly Typewriter, Philadelphia PA
2026
“Dream Here Now!, exhibtion” Space 1026, Philadelphia PA
“Writing An Obituary: Workshop” Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia PA
“West Philly Earth Walk” curated walk in Philadelphia PA
“School of Monumaking Summit: Typewriter Poetry” Monument Lab, Philadelphia PA
“Recharge Park Ribbon-cutting: Typewriter Poetry” King of Prussia PA
“Nick Virgilio Graveside Reading, performer” Harleigh Cemetery, Camden NJ
2025
“Governor Matt Meyer’s Inaugural Ball” The Queen Theater, Wilmington DE
“Poe Party: Personalized Poetry” Free Library, Philadelphia PA
“Valentine’s Day Skate: Typewriter Poetry” Independence Blue Cross Riverrink, Philadelphia PA
“Speak Freely Speakeasy: Typewriter Poetry” National Liberty Museum, Philadelphia PA
“Golden Voice, Movie: Performed as Myself” Philadelphia PA
“Dream Here Now!, Exhibition” Abyssinia, Philadelphia PA
“Earth Day: Dream Seed Workshop” National Liberty Museum, Philadelphia PA
“Mystic Movement, Exhibition” Sera Phi, Philadelphia PA
“Ramboree Spring Fest: Typewriter Poetry” West Chester University, PA
“Buck Moon on Fire, Performance” Pentridge Station, Philadelphia PA
“Museum Explorers Family Day: This Earthen Door” Brandywine Museum of Art, Chadds Ford PA
“Declare Your Liberty Community Poem, Exhibition” Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia PA
“Fall Fest: Poetry On Demand” Colorado State University, Fort Collins CO
“The Dream Is Nigh!, Play” Fringe Fest, Philadelphia PA
“Illumination & Libations Gala: Typewriter Poetry” Michener Art Museum, Doylestown PA
“Masquerade Ball: Typewriter Poetry” Glen Foerd, Philadelphia PA
2024
“Dream Zine Workshop” Brandywine Museum of Art, Chadds Ford, PA
“PECO Free First Sunday: Poetry On Demand” Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia PA
“Taken By The Sky: Photo Exhibition” Unique Photo, Philadelphia PA
“Valentines Day: Center City District Happy Hour” Dilworth Park, Philadelphia PA
“Art & Coffee Break: Galley Exhibit” Annex Gallery, Historic Smithville Park, Easstampton NJ
“Philly ASAP: Word Scrabble” Free Library, Philadelphia PA
“Spring Fest: Poetry On Demand” Colorado State University, Fort Collins CO
“Author Talk/Haiku Workshop” Falls of Schuylkill Library, Philadelphia PA
“Earth Day: Dream Seeds Workshop” American Swedish Historical Museum, Philadelphia PA
“Poetry Gumball Machine Celebration” Museum of Art In Wood, Philadelphia PA
“Germantown Readathon” Braid Mills, Philadelphia PA
“Monument Lab: Declare Your Liberty, art installation” Independence Hall Visitor Center, Philadelphia PA
“Members Night: Poetry On Demand” Mt. Cuba Center, Greenville DE
“Weirdo Fest: Typewriter Poetry” East Kensington Neighborhood Arts, Philadelphia PA
“Wedding Crashers Ball: Typewriter Poetry” Glen Foerd, Philadelphia PA
“Harnwell Hall: Fall Fest” University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA
“Daybreaker: Party To The Polls with Bill Nye” City Hall, Philadelphia PA
2023
“Wall Ball” Mural Arts, Philadelphia PA
“People’s Budget Office: Dream Seed Factory” Mural Arts at City Hall, Philadelphia PA
“Write a May Day Folktale" Community Poem with Eric Cesar Morales (of Philly Folklore Project), art installation” Cesar Andreu Iglesias Community Garden
“House Party” Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia PA
“Presenter for MFA class on Guerilla Poetrics with Yolanda Wisher” Temple University, Philadelphia PA
“Young Professional’s Night: Moonlit” Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia PA
“Circles Soiree” Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia PA
2022
“Past/Forward” Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia PA
“PC Now 2022: The Art of Care” Philadelphia Contemporary, Philadelphia PA
“These Jawns Vote” New Voices of Reproductive Justice, Philadelphia PA
“Wawa Presents: Our America Now” The Oval XP, Philadelphia PA
“Indie Philly Artists Fundraising Concert” Hip Hop Foundation, Philadelphia PA
“Healing Verse Poetry Line” Philadelphia Contemporary, Philadelphia PA
“Tianguis Cultural: Dream Seeds” Cesar Andreu Iglesias Community Gardens, Philadelphia PA
“WAP Party” Philadelphia Contemporary, Philadelphia PA
“PECO Free First Sunday: A Love Letter To West Philly” Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia PA
2021
"Live At The Writers House on WXPN" Kelly Writers House, Philadelphia PA
"Everyday Places Artist Partnership: West Philly Community Poem" The Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia PA
"Mural Arts and Wawa Present: Barnes on the Block" The Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia PA
"from the BEATS to the BEATNIK" The Beatnik Lounge, Joshua Tree CA
"Grass Colors – Paintings + Bikes" Tulla-Realschule, Mannheim, Germany
2020
"Uncharted Waters" Havertown Community Action Network, Philadelphia PA
"Street Poets: Live Typewritten Art" 1455 Summer Literary Festival, Winchester VA
"The Poetry of Strangers – Typewriter Parade" Book Soup, Los Angeles CA
2018
"ManifeSTATION Station: Give The River A Voice" The PASEO, Taos NM
"Libraries, curated by Little Berlin" The Front, New Orleans LA
"Dreams By Request" Currents New Media Festival, Santa Fe NM
"A Poem Is Where The Heart Is..." curator, Parse Seco, Taos NM
2017
"Poets and Unicorns" The PASEO, Taos NM
2016
"Natural Tendencies" Anetra Studio, Denver CO
"March Forth" Martha Street Mummers Museum, Philadelphia PA
"Peripheral Surveillance" #TheWrong New Media Festival, University of the Arts, Philadelphia PA
2014
"The Dream Oven: A Retrospective" curator, Little Berlin, Philadelphia PA
"Between The Act & Motion" Artscape, Baltimore MD
"Plato's Porno Cave - The Trial" curator, Little Berlin, Philadelphia PA
"Year of the Gewgaw" Collage Fest, Philadelphia PA
"Little White Cubes" curator, Delaware Center for Contemporary Arts, Wilmington DE
2013
"Fort Thunder Attacks...again!" Space 1026, Philadelphia PA
"All Of CITYWIDE" Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia PA
"Limits and Demonstrations: A Lula Chamberlain Retrospective" curator, Little Berlin, Philadelphia PA
"Plato's Porno Cave - The New World" curator, Little Berlin, Philadelphia PA
2012
"HUNG" Little Berlin, Philadelphia PA
"Bruce High Quality Foundation presents Bruceforma 2012" MoMA PS1, Queens NY
"Plato's Porno Cave - A Dream Symposium" curator, Little Berlin, Philadelphia PA
2011
"Carnivale de Arcanum" curator, VWVOFFKA, Philadelphia PA
2010
"Soundoffka vol. 2" VWVOFFKA, Philadelphia PA
"Small Objects" curator, VWVOFFKA, Philadelphia PA
"Concrete, etc" curator, VWVOFFKA, Philadelphia PA
"Soundoffka vol. 1" VWVOFFKA, Philadelphia PA
RESIDENCIES
The Barnes Foundation and People's Emergency Center
Everyday Places Artist Parnership, Philadelphia PA - August 2021-February 2022
https://www.pec-cares.org/barneswest.html
Parse Seco, Taos NM; March - May 2018
http://www.parseseco.com/artist-residency--show-submissions.html
368 Ponce, Atlanta GA; April - May 2017
http://www.368ponce.com/
The Holy Underground, Baltimore MD; February 2016
http://theholyunderground.tumblr.com/
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All imagery and content © 2026 Marshall James Kavanaugh. All Rights Reserved.
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