David A. Gaines (he/they) is a poet, director and actor born and based in Philadelphia. His work examines Blackness, masculinity, Christianity and mental health through an intersectional lens.
Dave’s films have screened at film festivals such as the BlackStar Film Festival, Gary International Black Film Festival, National Black Arts Festival and the International Video Poetry Festival.
As an award-winning, nationally touring poetry performer and Poet Laureate of Pennsylvania’s Montgomery County, his work has also been featured in several publications including The New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, VICE Media, Button Poetry, among many others. In 2025, his forthcoming sophomore poetry manuscript, “CECIL", was selected as the first runner up for the AWP Donald Hall Poetry Prize.
