Appointed Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in France on March 15, 2005.
On March 15, 2005, Patti Smith was appointed a Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture. This prestigious title recognized her enormous contributions to the arts, affirming the impact of her work in music, literature, and visual arts. The honor highlights France's acknowledgment of Smith's global influence in cultural spheres, particularly in how she intertwined her art with avant-garde and poetic sensibilities.