Jan Robert Leegte (born 1973, The Netherlands) has worked with the internet as an artistic medium since 1997, placing him among the pioneers of net art. His early works, exhibited internationally, examined the web browser as sculptural and philosophical object, treating scrollbars, selection marquees, and interface elements as material in their own right.
In 2002, before post-internet became a movement, Leegte was already translating this practice into physical gallery space, bringing the aesthetics and logic of digital infrastructure into sculptures and installations. That foundational move shaped a generation of artists working at the intersection of network culture and object-based art.
Leegte's practice investigates the ontological nature of digital elements—from Photoshop selection marquees and scrollbars to Google Maps interfaces and raw code. His work questions the boundaries between virtual and physical space, exploring tensions between algorithmic systems and human perception. "The networked computer is the central muse in my work, exploring all its wonders and peculiarities," he explains. "I don't use software to make art; I make art about software."
In recent years, Leegte has expanded his practice to include blockchain technologies and NFTs, continuing his investigation of digital materiality in the ever unfolding Internet. His work has been exhibited internationally at prestigious institutions including Whitechapel Gallery (London), Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum (Amsterdam), ZKM (Karlsruhe), Centre Pompidou (Paris), and Museum Ludwig (Budapest). He is currently represented by Upstream Gallery (Amsterdam) and Office Impart (Berlin).
Jan Robert Leegte lives and works in Amsterdam.
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