Patti Smith

Patti Smith photographed in Netherlands. This image has not been signed by the photographer, it is approved with the Lex Van Rossen estate stamp.

This image was made in my studio in New York City. Patti was one of my closest friends and she would come by any time to do photographs with me. I thought of her as my muse. It was so freeing to work... read more with someone who loved the camera and understood the power of the image. My work with her felt like more of a collaboration, which is the best way to work. Patti had, and still does, a sense of fashion that was unique. She was an avid reader of French Vogue and shopped in only the finest stores. She would take expensive clothes and throw them in the washer when they were supposed to be dry cleaned or she would cut them up and wear them in ways the designer probably never intended. She introduced me to egyptian kohl for eye makeup. I remember when I wanted to do makeup on Chrissie Hynde and she refused, I showed her Patti Smith images and told her what Patti used and so she let me do her makeup. Patti always had a lot of influence.