Laurence Gartel

LAURENCE GARTEL Digital Media Pioneer: Artistic Background Mr. Gartel is considered to be the "FATHER" of the Digital Art movement around the world for over 35 years. His work has been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art, Joan Whitney Payson Museum, Long Beach Museum of Art, Princeton Art Museum, PS 1, Norton Museum, Palm Beach Photographic Center and in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of American History and the Bibliotheque Nationale. His biography for his pioneering efforts is included in "Who's Who," "Who's Who in the East," "Who's Who in America," "Who's Who in American Art," and "Who's Who in the World." Born and raised in New York City, Mr. Gartel taught Andy Warhol how to use the Amiga Computer, when he got the commission to do the cover of Debbie Harry's (Blondie) album cover. Gartel went to School of Visual Arts and associated with fellow student, graffiti artist Keith Haring, where he earned his BFA degree majoring in Graphics. Gartel went to CW Post College going for his MA in photography studying under Arthur Liepzig. Gartel started his electronic career working side by side with Nam June Paik at Media Study/Buffalo in upstate New York in 1975. Gartel had many associations with musicians such as Debbie Harry (Blonde) Sid Vicious (Sex Pistols), Stiv Bators (Dead Boys) Johnny Thunders (New York Dolls) Ace Frehley (Kiss) and Wendy O Williams (Plasmatics). Recently, Gartel has created artwork for such Pop Culture stars such as Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears. His ABSOLUT GARTEL commission for Absolut Vodka is perhaps his most well known artwork gracing the pages of “ART-IN-AMERICA,” “Artforum,” “Sothebys,” “Art and Auction,””Art and Antiques,” “ArtByte,” “Scientific American,” “Technology Review,” “WIRED,” & “NY Magazine.. It is known as the first Digital Photographc ever ever created for this famous advertising campaign and is included in ABSOLUT BOOK by Richard Lewis. He has several monograph books on his work: "Laurence Gartel: A Cybernetic Romance" published by Gibbs Smith, (c) 1989 Utah. Introduction to the book is written by video guru Nam June Paik. "GARTEL: Arte & Tecnologia" published by Edizioni Mazzotta, (c) 1998 Milan, Italy. Introduction to the book is written by noted art historian and critic Pierre Restany. 250 pages over 400 color plates. Mr. Gartel is included in the Italian Art History Textbook: "La Storia Dell Arte" published by Editions Giunti (c) 2001, Florence.