TAK Erzinger is an American/Swiss poet and artist with a Colombian background. Nature is what loosens the hinges of her heart revealing the window to her soul. It is the essence of both her artwork and writing. She commits moments to memory and returns again and again to places outside savouring these unexpected and fleeting encounters. By combining these intimate moments with how she experiences them she tell a story through clay, painting and writing expressing a language that communicates in raw emotion through colour and composition. Her poetry has been featured by journals at the Latino Book Review, Indiana University, Cornell University, McMaster University, the University of Baltimore and more. Erzinger’s poetry collection At the Foot of the Mountain, (Floricanto Press 2021), won the University of Indianapolis, Etchings Press Whirling Prize for 2021 for best nature poetry book and is a two-time finalist. Her second poetry collection Tourist (Sea Crow Press 2023) is also a two-time finalist at the International Book Awards and the Eyelands Book Awards. Erzinger was an artist-in-residence at the Art Centre Padula Residency Programme Italy, summer 2023, at Brisons Veor Residency Cornwall, fall 2024 and The Eutopia Artist Residence Greece, spring 2025. Most recently her first children’s picture book, Queen of the Mountain won 5 awards in 2025 including book of the year. She lives in the Alps in Switzerland with her husband and two cats.