Project Native Informant Reflects on LISTE Art Fair's Impact on Emerging Galleries

Stephan Tanbin Sastrawidjaja's London gallery Project Native Informant first participated in LISTE in 2015, presenting work by collectives DIS, GCC, and Shanzhai Biennale. The gallery secured placements with the Whitney Museum of American Art and major foundations during that initial fair. LISTE, which launched in 1996, has become a crucial platform for new galleries, with E. Gutzwiller & Cie, Banquiers serving as main partner since 1997. This private bank was established in Basel in 1886 by Carl Gutzwiller and remains family-owned. Sastrawidjaja emphasizes that emerging fairs like LISTE and Paris Internationale provide essential venues for experimental work beyond digital formats. He notes these events allow artists to develop three-dimensional presentations that complement gallery exhibition programs and initiatives like Vanessa Carlos's Condo project. For younger galleries considering LISTE, Sastrawidjaja advises visiting first to assess compatibility with their artists and understanding financial risks before participating. Project Native Informant's current LISTE booth features Flo Brooks, DIS, Hal Fischer, Juliana Huxtable, and Harumi Yamaguchi. The gallery values LISTE's peer networking opportunities, where sharing advice with other galleries in similar situations has been instrumental to its development.