Ashley Obscura is a writer, publisher, and creative director whose work spans poetry, editorial practice, digital publishing, and immersive media. She is the author of Sexo por última vez, Ambient Technology, and I Am Here, and the founder of Metatron Press, an independent literary press recognized for its contribution to contemporary poetry and experimental writing. Her broader body of work includes publishing projects, archives, poetic systems, award-winning VR, and experimental game-based environments, all shaped by a commitment to language, narrative, and building resonant cultural spaces.
Projects
My projects move across books, digital publishing, archives, poetic systems, immersive media, and experimental environments. Together, they reflect an ongoing practice shaped by writing, editorial vision, design, and cultural production.
Publishing Projects
Games + Environments
Poetry Books
Selected Readings, Performances, Presentations + Lectures
Past readings, talks, and appearances have taken place at universities, international festivals, literary conferences, festivals, iconic bookstores, and cultural venues across Canada and beyond.
Beyond the Book Cover: Branding in the Book Industry — Panel Moderator
Open Books Open Minds Conference, 2026
Acts of Resistance: Micro + Macro — Round Table Discussion
Bois Magique, Montréal, 2026
Small Press Publishing — Guest Lecture
Université Laval, Québec, 2026
POP Reads — Poetry Reading
POP Montreal Festival, 2025
Literary Oktoberfest — Keynote Presentation
Yolk Literary Oktoberfest, 2024
Publishing in the 21st Century — Publishing Workshop
Blue Metropolis Festival, 2023
Creating Content for Video Games — Panel Discussion
Writers Read Presents, Concordia University 4th Space, 2023
Small Press Publishing in Canada — Panel Discussion
McGill University, 2023
Writing Futures in Quebec — Guest Lecture & Discussion
NOTA: Next on the Agenda, Concordia University 4th Space, 2022
In Translation: Bridging Our Divide — Reading & Discussion
Blue Metropolis International Festival, 2021
The Future of Small Press — Panel Discussion
Meet The Presses Indie Lit Symposium, 2020
Digital Pathways: Publishing, Editing and Writing Millennial Fiction & Poetics — Panel Discussion
AWP Conference, Portland, 2019
Publishing Unbound: Inclusivity and Accountability in Canadian Publishing — Conference
Simon Fraser University, 2018
Contemporary Anglophone Poetry in Quebec and the Digital Realm — Guest Lecture
Université de Montréal, 2018
Festival Internacional de Poesia Rosario — Readings & Panel Discussions
Rosario, Argentina, 2017
Selected Recognition
Critical reception and recognition span writing, publishing, and immersive media, with praise from literary magazines, authors, and cultural critics alongside award-winning books from Metatron Press and internationally recognized honors for Museum of Symmetry. Together, these accolades reflect a practice that moves between poetry, independent publishing, and experimental digital storytelling.
Writing Praise
“One of the best poets living in Quebec today.”
— Magazine Spirale
“Space-age and ancient all at once.”
— Marcela Huerta, via Blue Metropolis
“Lurid, psychedelic, syrupy, sparkly.”
— Library Vibes
“Sexy metaphysics, pop mysticism.”
— Fanzine
“Psychedelic sensuality.”
— The Ex-Puritan
“A bouquet of miracles.”
— Liz Bowen, author of Sugarblood
“A healing song.”
— Cecilia Pavón, author of Hotel with My Name
“Tender and bright images that leave you enthralled and awakened.”
— Fariha Róisín, author of How to Cure a Ghost
“At times, I felt like I was reading spells.”
— Elizabeth Schmuhl, Michigan Quarterly Review
Metatron Press
“Metatron Press of Montréal is one of the great small presses making this moment exciting for poetry.”
- Los Angeles Review of Books
“In a few decades, Metatron books could act as a time capsule, as they synthesize well the time which one lives presently.”
- Voir
BEST CHAPBOOK - 2ND PLACE
Water Kin by Mahaila Smith (Digital Publication)
Elgin Awards, 2025
Presented by the Science-Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association
BEST ENGLISH LITERARY BOOK
the half-drowned by Trynne Delaney
The Expozine Awards, 2023
WINNER OF FIRST BOOK PRIZE
the half-drowned by Trynne Delaney
The Quebec Writers’ Federation Literary Awards, 2022
Sponsored by Concordia University
BEST LGBTQ EROTICA
The Nerves by Lee Suksi
Lambda Literary Awards, 2021
FIRST BOOK PRIZE - SHORTLIST
knot body by Eli Tareq El Bechelany-Lynch
The Quebec Writers’ Federation Literary Awards, 2021
Sponsored by Concordia University
BEST FICTION - SHORTLIST
ʔbédayine by Kaitlyn Purcell
Indigenous Voices Award, 2020
Museum of Symmetry
Museum of Symmetry was produced by the National Film Board of Canada and selected for major international immersive showcases, including the Tribeca Film Festival’s immersive program. Since its release, the work has been exhibited internationally in festivals, museums, and curated XR contexts, and is widely cited as a landmark poetic VR experience. It is frequently referenced in critical, curatorial, and academic discussions on VR as a contemplative, feminist, and affect-driven medium, contributing to early canon-forming conversations around immersive art beyond spectacle or gameplay.
BEST VR EXPERIENCE
Canadian Screen Academy Awards
Canada, 2019
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD - INTERACTIVE
Festival of International Virtual + Augmented Reality
Canada, 2019
INTERACTIVE PRODUCTION - FICTION
Numix Awards
Canada, 2019
GOLD AUDIENCE AWARD - BEST VR WORK
Fantasia International Film Festival
Canada, 2019
KIDS CHOICE AWARD
Cinekid
Netherlands, 2019
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD: INTERACTIVE
North Bend Film Festival
United States, 2018
NOMINATED FOR BEST VR GAME
Unity Awards
United States, 2018
Anthologies + Translations
Selected poems and translations have appeared in anthologies and international editions across Canada and abroad, including publications in French, Spanish, and Romanian. Together, these inclusions reflect a body of work that has circulated across languages, literary scenes, and contemporary poetry communities.
Anthologie de la poésie contemporaine des femmes au Quebec: 2000-2020
Éditions du remue-ménage
Canada, 2021
French translation of and inclusion of poem ‘Opus Seed Iris Omega’
Todos los ruiditos
Alt Lit Poetry Anthology
Pesopluma
Peru, 2018
Spanish translation of select poems from I Am Here
30 Under 30
Anthology of Canadian Millennial Writers
In/Words Press
Canada, 2017
Mil novecientos violeta
Series Poéticas
Editorial El Gaviero
Spain, 2015
Spanish translation of select poems from I Am Here
Everything In Its Right Place
Zona Nouǎ
România, 2014
Romanian translation of select poems from I Am Here