Andrea Gibson, the American poet and spoken word artist, died on Sunday, 14 July 2025. They were 49.
Andrea Gibson dies: What’s the cause of death?
According to reports, their death occurred in the wee hours at home, surrounded by their wife Megan Falley, four former partners, their parents, close friends, and three dogs.
Gibson was initially diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2021. Despite undergoing treatment, they shared in May 2023 that the disease had returned.
They later cancelled a planned tour in August 2022 due to complications from the illness.
Their journey with cancer was captured in the documentary Come See Me in the Good Light, which won the Festival Film Favourite Award at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
Andrea Gibson biography
Born on 13 August 1975, in Calais, Maine, Andrea Gibson was raised in a Baptist household. They later moved to Boulder, Colorado in 1999, where their artistic career began to flourish.
Gibson identified outside of the traditional gender binary and used they/them pronouns, often exploring themes of gender identity, social justice, and LGBTQ+ experiences in their work.
They became known through open mic performances and published multiple poetry collections, including Pole Dancing To Gospel Hymns, The Madness Vase, Pansy, Lord of the Butterflies, and You Better Be Lightning.
Gibson’s discography includes spoken word albums such as Bullets and Windchimes, Yellowbird, and Hey Galaxy.
Their writing often merged poetry and activism. Gibson was deeply involved in feminist and queer advocacy, performing with the radical performance group Vox Feminista and creating a support platform called Stay Here With Me, aimed at promoting emotional well-being and suicide prevention.
They were also Colorado’s Poet Laureate as of September 2023 and were the first person to win the Women of the World Poetry Slam in 2008.
Their influences included Sonya Renee Taylor and Mary Oliver.
Reactions to Andrea Gibson’s death
Tributes to Gibson’s life and legacy have poured in from fans and peers in the poetry and LGBTQ+ communities.
Here are some of the tributes we picked: