Barnes is the author of the
chapbookme Aunt Jemima and the nailgun (2013), which won an Exploding Pinecone Prize from
Button Poetry.[5] Their full-length collection, i be but i ain’t (2016), won a Pamet River Prize from
YesYes Books.[6] They are the cofounder of the Poetry Gods podcast and the co-founder of The Conversation Literary Festival.[7][8] Barnes wrote the play BLKS, which played at
Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago.[9] Their upcoming collection, The Blind Pig will be released by Not A Cult media.[10]
BLKS
BLKS centers around the story of four black millennial friends, Octavia, June, Ry and Imani, who share a New York City apartment.[11] The play has been called "comedic social realism" and is a "
day in the life" style of work.[12] The production has been compared to the TV Show Girls.[13]BLKS was originally Barnes' final thesis project at NYU.[14]
Actors Nora Carroll (Octavia), Leea Ayers (June), Danielle Davis (Ry) and Celeste M. Cooper (Imani) performed in the Steppenwolf's Theatre Company's rendition of BLKS.[12][15] The show was directed by
Nataki Garrett and artistic director
Anna D. Shapiro. The show debuted on December 18, 2017,[15] and ran through January 28, 2018.
Barnes is black, and identifies as queer.[12] They are originally from, and currently live in, Los Angeles.[2][21] Barnes was born with a
polycystic ovary and as such grows facial hair. They use they/their/them pronouns.[12]