In “Just Kids” Patti Smith struggles to find her place in the art world. She experiments with different forms of art, trying to determine where she fits best. Patti experiments with painting, sketching, poetry, and music, but feels that she is not exceptionally talented in any.  Throughout the course of the novel, Patti changes greatly. In addition to experimenting with her artistic style, she also experiments with her personal style. The biggest example of this is when she cuts her hair. In her own life, Patti explores gender and identity, but this exploration does not transcend into her art. Looking at her sketches and examining her songs and poems. Patti’s art, while based on her own life and experiences does not reflect any exploration of gender. Her art is based primarily on her desire simply to create art. She feels the calling to be an artist but cannot find the right outlook to express this calling. When Patti turns to music, she is greatly influenced by her poetry as well as the artists that came before her. Patti’s musical career starts with her putting her poems to music and with her writing song lyrics for her friends. One of her biggest influences comes from her meeting with Jimi Hendrix shortly before his death. He tells Patti of his dream to make his own musical language, one in which peace prevails. While Jimi Hendrix never got the chance, in many ways it is this same dream that fuels Patti’s music. While she herself may experiment with gender stereotypes herself, her art focuses on different topics.