Theo Downes-Le Guin is literary executor for author Ursula K. Le Guin and heads the Ursula K. Le Guin Foundation. Through programs such as an annual prize for fiction, the Foundation continues Le Guin’s legacy of supporting writers and readers of science fiction, fantasy, literary fiction, and poetry. He also consults on adaptations of Le Guin’s work for screen and stage.

Downes-Le Guin founded a contemporary art gallery in Portland, Oregon, curating more than 80 exhibitions in the gallery, art fairs, museums and online. Prior to working in the arts, he worked in market research for the technology industry and in public policy research. He holds degrees in art history and applied social research methods and has served on various not-for-profit boards including Literary Arts.

Downes-Le Guin has collaborated on designing the Vaster than Empires Project that takes its name from a science fiction story of that name by renowned writer Ursula K. Le Guin. As a 2023-2024 Fellow, Downes-Le Guin will continue to collaborate with Future Humans, science fiction writers, artists, and designers, on the driving theme of the project: collective intelligence expressed in microbial, plant, computational, embodied, planetary, and cosmic registers.