Kenneth Patchen (December 13 1911–January 8 1972) was an American poet and painter. Though he denied any direct connection, Patchen's work and ideas regarding the role of artists paralleled those of the dadaists and surrealists. Patchen also helped pioneer an art form known as picture poems.

Life

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Patchen was born in Niles, Ohio. He attended Alexander Meiklejohn's Experimental College for one year, and then the University of Wisconsin. As a poor boy, he worked in factories and played football in high school. He fell in love with Miriam Oikemus, to whom he sent so many love poems that she belived he was unemployed. They married, and he dedicated all of his books to her. For much of his life Patchen suffered from a spinal disorder which caused him extreme pain. Patchen espoused anarchism and pacifism, and much of his work opposes war. He was against U.S. involvement in World War II, believing that the high ideals of protecting democracy were betrayed by political machinations and senseless violence.

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