Laurence Gartel Is Back in the 954 — And He’s Bringing Half a Century of Digital Wizardry With Him

Photo courtesy Laurence Gartel

If Broward’s art scene had a Mount Rushmore, Laurence Gartel’s face would be carved in neon. The legendary digital art pioneer — the guy who put pixels on the map long before most of us had dial-up — is back home in Fort Lauderdale after a blockbuster run in France. And he didn’t just return with a few souvenirs and a slight espresso addiction.

He’s rolling into the 954 with new exhibitions, a fresh book, a film premiere, and a vibe that hits somewhere between global art titan and Sailboat Bend neighbor who still knows where to get the best midnight empanada.

This is Broward arts meets world-class creativity. Strap in.

The French Tour That Had Art Lovers Losing Their Minds

Gartel just wrapped a cultural victory lap across France — a trilogy of exhibitions, a film premiere, and the launch of a new book that proves he is, in fact, still decades ahead of the curve.

He opened with a 50-Year Retrospective, a mic-drop overview of a career that has reshaped what digital art even is. Then he hit audiences with entirely new work: AI-powered pieces and robotic paintings that feel like they were made in a future where humans and machines co-create for sport.

And yes, the French loved it. Really loved it.

One of the biggest moments? The World Premiere of “Laurence Gartel: Digital Titan,” an intimate documentary by Roberto Dassoni that screened with French subtitles. The audience responded with full-body admiration — applause, gasps, and that hushed gallery energy that means you’re witnessing the real deal.

He also unveiled his book, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics – Miami/Normandie, complete with a live demo of his robotic painting process — the kind of moment that makes you rethink what “painting” even means.

Gartel’s Global Impact Still Hits Like a Powerline

If you somehow missed the last 50 years of Gartel’s world domination, here’s the recap:

• The guy literally did the ABSOLUT GARTEL campaign.

• He’s been on the cover of Forbes, in Apple’s “Think Different” era, and created the official artwork for the Grammys.

• His immersive installations are legend — including the Legends of Rock & Roll works at the Seminole Hard Rock Guitar Hotel.

• His digital pieces pop up everywhere from the Brightline Station in Miami to art cars at the New York International Auto Show.

  
  

He also helped pioneer public digital art before it was cool — like “Miami and the Millennium,” his 19-light-box installation commissioned by Miami International Airport in 1995. Nearly three decades later, he’s ready to bring another technologically advanced work back to MIA. Full circle energy.

Add in global exhibitions, lectures around the world, commissions in India, and keynote appearances from Melbourne to Moscow, and it becomes obvious: Gartel isn’t just a digital artist. He’s a world-mover.

Back in the 954 With New Work — and a New Creative Charge

Fresh off the plane, Gartel premiered Digital Titan in the U.S. at Savor Cinema, giving Fort Lauderdale its first look at the documentary that had France buzzing.

His book has already been updated with new photos and reflections from his French travels — a move that proves he’s creating and editing at the speed of inspiration.

And because he doesn’t do “rest,” Gartel immediately launched into a new body of work he’s calling Digital Impressionism. Think cultural landmarks reimagined through his hyper-evolved digital eye:

• Monet’s House and Gardens in Giverny

• Dieppe by the Sea

• Forges-les-Eaux

• Château & Gardens of Bois-Guilbert (home to Nobleman Jean-Marc de Pas)

  
  

It’s Gartel channeling the spirit of the Impressionists through algorithms, robotics, and half a century of global mastery — a perfect Broward-meets-world moment.

Next Up: A Three-Story Takeover at 1310 Galleries in Sailboat Bend

Photo courtesy Sailboat Bend Artist Lofts

Fort Lauderdale gets the next chapter.

“Artificial Intelligence and Robotics” — the full, three-floor exhibition — is landing at 1310 Galleries at Sailboat Bend, home to one of the highest concentrations of working artists in Broward. The Sailboat Bend Artist Lofts have long been a creative nerve center for the city, and Gartel setting up shop feels like the universe aligning.

This is the kind of show that’ll pull in Art Walk regulars, Parker patrons, and beach-stage vibers alike. The 954 art ecosystem converging under one roof.

Exhibition Details

Date: Friday, November 21, 2025

Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Location: 1310 Galleries at Sailboat Bend Address: 1310 SW 2nd Court, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312

Expect a book signing, the first public debut of the completed publication, and a chance to see how far the future stretches when someone like Gartel is holding the controls.

Broward Has Entered Its Digital Era — Go Experience It Live

From Savor Cinema to Sailboat Bend, from FATVillage to The Parker, Broward’s creative ecosystem is leveling up — and Laurence Gartel is part of the reason the 954 keeps showing up on global arts radars.

This is our moment to celebrate the innovators, the culture shapers, and the boundary pushers who make Broward more than a beach town. Gartel’s return is a reminder: world-class creativity thrives right here at home.

Go see the exhibit. Buy the book. Support your local creators. Show up for the 954.