Laura Ybt Art 17 [verified] -

This labor-intensive fusion of old and new techniques gives Art 17 its unique tension. It is neither purely analog nor purely digital. It exists in the uncomfortable space between. Upon its debut at the Salon du Dessin Contemporain in 2022, Laura Ybt Art 17 drew immediate praise. Art critic Jean-Luc Morin wrote in Art Press : “With Art 17 , Ybt achieves what many have attempted but few have managed: she makes the glitch feel human. The embroidery is not a repair; it is a wound made beautiful.”

This philosophy resonates deeply with a generation fatigued by algorithmic perfection. The cyan thread becomes a metaphor for human intervention in an increasingly automated world. It is messy. It is imperfect. It is unmistakably alive. Since its unveiling, Art 17 has inspired a wave of textile-digital hybrids in graduate shows from London to Tokyo. Art students cite Ybt’s use of embroidery as “glitch remediation” as a breakthrough technique. Several online tutorials now attempt (with mixed success) to replicate her stitched pixelation effect. Laura Ybt Art 17

The piece was shortlisted for the Prix Meurice pour l’Art Contemporain and later acquired by a private collector in Berlin. However, Ybt retained the right to exhibit it publicly for two months each year—a testament to her attachment to this work. Because Laura Ybt Art 17 is part of a private collection, public viewings are rare. However, the work is scheduled for a special loan exhibition at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie (MEP) in Paris from November 15 to December 20, 2025. A limited-edition artist’s book, which includes a high-quality facsimile of Art 17 alongside Ybt’s handwritten notes, will be released simultaneously. This labor-intensive fusion of old and new techniques

Ybt has stated in her only written statement about the piece: “Art 17 is not about nostalgia. It is about the ghosts that live inside our machines. When you hang up for the last time, the line doesn’t go silent. It hums.” Upon its debut at the Salon du Dessin

For collectors interested in owning a Ybt original, the artist currently works with Galerie Catherine Putman in Brussels. While Art 17 itself is not for sale, Ybt has hinted that Art 18 —a sequel exploring voicemail archives—will be released in 2026. In an era of AI-generated images and NFT frenzies, Laura Ybt Art 17 stands as a counter-narrative. It insists on slowness, on physical labor, on the beauty of decay and error. The abandoned telephone booth—once a lifeline, now a relic—mirrors our own relationship with obsolete technologies and forgotten conversations.

Whether you are a seasoned collector or a curious newcomer, seeking out is more than an acquisition or an Instagram post. It is an encounter with an artist who believes that imperfection is not a flaw, but a language. Stay updated on Laura Ybt exhibitions and releases by following Galerie Catherine Putman’s official newsletter. The next Art 17 facsimile book pre-orders open October 1, 2025.