An acclaimed singer, songwriter, poet, painter, and author, Patti Smith has inspired countless artists. From R.E.M. and PJ Harvey to Lorde and Arlo Parks, her influence as one of music’s most progressive and impactful performers transcends generations. 

Born in Chicago and raised in New Jersey, Patti moved to Manhattan in her early twenties, inspired by Bob Dylan, Allen Ginsberg, and the city’s beatnik poetry scene. 

It was here that she met her longtime creative partner and best friend Robert Mapplethorpe. They lived together at the Hotel Chelsea. 

Popularised by Andy Warhol’s film Chelsea Girls in the late 1960s, Hotel Chelsea became a creative incubator, housing the likes of Bob Dylan, Arthur Miller, and Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. 

After years as a struggling poet and musician, Patti’s breakthrough came with her 1975 debut album Horses. The iconic cover photo was shot by Robert. 

In 1978 she worked with Bruce Springsteen, co-writing the epic hit Because the Night. 

In 2010 she published the beautiful and heartbreaking memoir Just Kids, which details her tumultuous relationship with, and enduring love for, Robert. 

Patti Smith has released eleven albums and published over twenty books. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, she is one of music’s most influential and respected artists.