Patti Smith erhält Asturien-Preis für Künste
Patti Smith, the 79-year-old American musician and author, has been awarded the Princess of Asturias Award in the Arts category. The Princess of Asturias Foundation in Oviedo, Spain, praised her as the "godmother of punk" who has transcended music to work across poetry, photography, performance art, and video installation, becoming a multidisciplinary and unconventional communicator. Smith first gained fame with her 1975 album "Horses" and remains popular with younger audiences due to her radical sincerity and continued political activism, including criticism of US President Donald Trump. She is the first winner announced this year; the prize includes €50,000 and a replica of a Joan Miró statue, to be presented by King Felipe VI and Crown Princess Leonor in late October.
This award matters because it recognizes an artist whose influence extends far beyond music into the broader visual and literary arts, cementing her status as a cultural icon of protest and civil rights. The Princess of Asturias Awards are among Spain's highest honors, and Smith's selection underscores the enduring power of multidisciplinary, politically engaged art in contemporary culture. Her win also highlights the award's commitment to celebrating figures who break conventional boundaries across creative fields.