Essay by Patti Smith: Art Rats in New York City

In 1967, I arrived at the Port Authority Bus Terminal carrying a plaid suitcase. My dream was to become an artist. Though I might have lacked some skills, I was eager to develop them because I believed deeply in my calling. This vision came to me with intensity, without any Faustian bargain or divine expectations. I knew I would be on my own but hoped to find a kindred spirit, and Providence led me to one.

Meeting Robert Mapplethorpe

Robert Mapplethorpe was an American boy raised in a devout Catholic family. He had played saxophone in his high school band and earned an R.O.T.C. scholarship to study graphic arts at Pratt Institute. His mother dreamed he would enter the priesthood, while his father expected him to rise in the military ranks, backed by commercial art training. Robert had pale skin, green eyes, and dark curly hair cropped short.

Following his father's wishes, Robert received an apartment, shiny knee-high leather riding boots, and an allowance. At Pratt, he excelled as a draftsman and initially followed the path laid out for him. But little did anyone know, a different version of himself was emerging.

"At the age of twenty, Robert laid down his saxophone, his robes, and his rifle. He looked in the mirror and saw neither a priest nor a future captain in the R.O.T.C."

This moment marked a turning point for Robert, as he began to redefine his identity and future beyond the expectations of his family and society.

Author's Summary

Patti Smith recalls arriving in New York with artistic aspirations and meeting Robert Mapplethorpe, who rejected his prescribed path to forge his own creative identity.

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The New Yorker — 2025-11-01