Liste 2025: Your Complete Visitor Guide

Discover one of the globe’s premier art fairs in its hometown. Here’s everything you need to know about Liste 2025 — including exact dates at Liste Art Fair Basel, ticket options, must-see galleries and artists, plus insider recommendations on hotels, dining, and off-site cultural events to make the most of your visit.

Founded in 1996, LISTE Art Fair Basel has become the world’s most influential platform for emerging contemporary art, focusing on young galleries and experimental practices. Unlike traditional fairs, LISTE prioritizes innovation over commercial trends, serving as a critical launchpad for artists and galleries under 10 years old. The 2025 edition, themed “Uncharted Territories,” explores post-digital creativity, non-Western narratives, and interdisciplinary collaborations.

Special Projects

• “AI as Muse”: AI-generated art collaborations with Google Arts & Culture, including real-time algorithm-driven installations.
• Sound & Space: Immersive audio-visual works by Pan Daijing (CN) and Kang Seung Lee (KR/US).
• LISTE Performance Award: Live acts competing for a €15,000 prize, judged by Stella Rollig (CEO, Belvedere Museum).

Public Programs Talks:

• “Decolonizing the Digital” with Tabita Rezaire (GF/ZA).
• “Art After Crisis” with Cao Fei (CN) and Tuan Andrew Nguyen (VN/US).
• Film Screenings: Experimental shorts at Stadtkino Basel, curated by Berlinale Forum.
• Workshops: Blockchain basics for artists and AR storytelling labs.

♻️ Eco-Initiatives:

• Carbon-Neutral Certification: Partnering with myclimate Switzerland.
• Zero-Waste: Compostable materials and digital catalogs.
• Eco Grants: Funding for artists addressing climate collapse.

♿ Inclusivity:

• Multilingual tours (EN, DE, FR, ES).
• Wheelchair-accessible layout and quiet hours (June 16, 9–11 AM).

Beyond the Fair

• Fondation Beyeler: Explore Rothko and Giacometti (20-min tram ride).
• Museum Tinguely: Kinetic art by Jean Tinguely (10-min walk).
• Rhine River Walk: Discover public art along Basel’s waterfront.

LISTE Art Fair Basel, founded in 1996 by a group of Swiss gallerists, emerged as a rebellious alternative to mainstream art fairs. Its mission was to create a platform exclusively for young galleries and emerging artists, challenging the commercial focus of larger events like Art Basel. Over nearly three decades, LISTE has become a critical launchpad for avant-garde talent.
Key Historical Milestones

• 1996–2000: Debuted with 35 galleries in a Basel brewery, prioritizing experimental practices over market trends. Early exhibitors included Galerie Neu (Berlin) and Galerie Francesca Pia (Zurich).
• 2005: Expanded internationally, attracting galleries from Asia and the Americas. Introduced LISTE Performance Project, showcasing live art.
• 2015: Celebrated its 20th edition with a focus on digital art and non-Western narratives, reflecting globalization in the art world.
• 2020–2024: Pivoted to hybrid formats during the pandemic, integrating VR exhibitions and NFT showcases. Partnered with Serpentine Galleries (London) to curate a section on AI ethics.
• 2025: Marks its 30th anniversary with the theme “Uncharted Territories”, emphasizing post-pandemic resilience, decolonized practices, and climate-conscious art.

LISTE 2025 is driven by a bold vision to redefine the future of contemporary art through innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability. Its core objectives:

1. Elevate Emerging Voices

• Spotlight galleries under 10 years old and artists under 40, prioritizing those from Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.
• Award the LISTE Prize (€20,000) to an artist pushing boundaries in digital or interdisciplinary art.

2. Foster Artistic Innovation

• Digital Frontiers: Curate AI-generated art, VR installations, and blockchain projects.
• LISTE Labs: Pop-up studios where artists collaborate with scientists and technologists.

3. Promote Sustainability

• Achieve carbon-neutral certification via partnerships with myclimate Switzerland.
• Eco-Art Initiative: Commission works using recycled materials from the Rhine River.

4. Decolonize Art Narratives

• Global South Focus: Collaborate with collectives like RAW Material Company (Senegal) to challenge Eurocentric curation.
• Host talks on repatriation, indigenous knowledge, and post-colonial identity.

5. Democratize Access

• Free entry for students, refugees, and local communities.
• LISTE Exchange: Mentorship program pairing Basel artists with international peers.

Why LISTE 2025 Matters

• Cultural Impact: Redresses imbalances in the art world by amplifying marginalized voices.
• Market Influence: Over 70% of LISTE alumni (e.g., Pipilotti Rist, Alicja Kwade) now exhibit at major museums and biennials.
• Ethical Leadership: Sets benchmarks for eco-conscious and equitable art fairs.