Twentieth-century poet, artist, and editor best known for his association with View, a New York Surrealist publication. His poetry collections include The Garden of Disorder, Sleep in a Nest of Flames, and Emblems of Arachne.
He launched his first literary magazine, Blues, while still in his teens. Four years later, he published a novel addressing homosexual themes.
Though his first magazine never made it past its eighth issue, his second publication, View, attracted attention and financial support from artist Pablo Picasso and modernist poet EE Cummings.
He was born in Brookhaven, Mississippi. His sister, Ruth Ford, became an actress. He was the longtime partner of artist Pavel Tchelitchew.
He was part of author Gertrude Stein's inner circle, and he frequently published Stein's works in his magazines.
