Alexander Sebastianus
Alexander Sebastianus Hartanto perceives ethnographic research as an immersive way of life. His artworks examines the decontextualization of material cultures, probing how they are perceived, understood, and ritualized in practice. For Sebastianus, decolonizing the ontologies of art involves reclaiming Sani—a lifestyle
encompassing offerings, service, and the pursuit of the unknown. This approach leads to the recreation of pilgrimages, sacred spaces, and woven cloths, some of which may or may not be archived, documented, or shared. In the realm of Sani, what remains are remnants and traces of materials.
Hartanto received the prestigious 2017 William Daley Award for Excellence in Art History and Craft. He attained mastery in weaving through an apprenticeship in East Java, his grandmother's hometown, serving as the starting point for his visual and ontological explorations.
EDUCATION
2014 Certified heritage craft Master of Batik & Dyeing, Banyuwangi, East Java
2018 Bachelors of Fine Arts at Massachusetts College 2018 of Art and Design
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
2025 Forbes 30 Under 30, Asia 2025
2022 Art Moments Jakarta, Artist Highlight
Helen Blair Sculpture Award
Departmental Honours for Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fiber Arts
Massachusetts College of Art and Design | Boston, USA
William Daley Award for Excellence in Art History and Craft
2017 Annual Barbara L. Kuhlman Scholars Award
2016 Ethnic Studies and Craft Scholarship, Theresia India-Young Awards.
2013 Dean Design Scholarship, Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024 Mbaka Satitik: Ritualisation of From, John Hardy Gallery, Seminyak, Bali
Titik Dari: Constellation of From, Yiri Arts, Taipei
2023 Dari, Curated by Tan Siuli, ISA Art Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia
In Between A. Sebastianus | Poliform Jakarta, Indonesia
2021 Abdi Alam, Solo Show A.Sebastianus at ISA Art x Omah Budoyo, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2020 Interwoven: A weavers recalling of time, at Art AgendaJKT, Jakarta, Indonesia
2018 Dari (Coming froms), at DMC103, Boston, USA
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2025
Untranslateable Cartographies, ArtJakarta 2025, JIEXPO Kemayoran, Jakarta
Conjunction of Drones, ISA Art Gallery, Indonesia
On Not Knowing, ArtMoments Jakarta 2025, Agora Hall, Jakarta
Slovenia Textile Biennale, Kranj, Slovenia
Rwa Bhineda, Sun Contemporary, Bali, Indonesia
The Apartments, Art Jakarta Gardens, ISA Art Gallery Booth, Hutan Kota by Plataran
The Paper Menagerie, Omah Budoyo, Yogyakarta
Sungai Watch Charity Exhibition, Sun Contemporary, Bali
The Paper Menagerie, ISA Art Gallery, Jakarta
Gallery Collection: Where The Sidewalks End, ISA Art Gallery, Jakarta
2024
ArtSubs, Surabaya, Indonesia
IOTA Triennial, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Inventions of a Present, ArtMoments 2024, ISA Art Gallery, Indonesia
Whispers of Sisyphus, Art Jakarta 2024, ISA Art Gallery, Indonesia
The Missing Link, Mizuma Gallery, Singapore
Between The Lines, Appetite, Singapore
S.E.A Focus, ISA Art Gallery, Singapore
Butterfly Eyes, Tang Contemporary Art, Bangkok
Birama 3/4, Art Jakarta Garden, ISA Art Gallery, Jakarta
2023
NEW/NOW : Art SG, Marina Bays Sand, Singapore
Art Jakarta Garden , Hutan Kota by Plataran, Jakarta, Indonesia
2022
Gallery Benefit | Past. Future. Present. - National Gallery Singapore with
Phillips Auction
A Tribute of Heritage, PIK Pantjoran, Jakarta, Indonesia
Setelah Yang Lirada, Artsociates, West Java, Indonesia
Common Beauty, Non-Frasa, Gallery, Bali
Beyond Painting, Mizuma Gallery, Singapore
ART Jakarta, JCC Senayang, Jakarta
Formless: On Human Artifice and Natural Order, Semarang Gallery, Central Java, Indonesia
Sustained Rest, ISA Art Gallery, Jakarta
2021
Rasa Sastra, Kalyan Gallery, Jakarta
Kala-Masa, OPPO Art jakarta 2020, Art Agenda JKT, Jakarta
Humdrum Hum, ISA Art & Design, Jakarta
2020
Rasa Sastra, Kalyan Gallery, Jakarta
Kala-Masa, OPPO Art Jakarta 2020, Art Agenda JKT, Jakarta
Humdrum Hum, ISA Art & Design, Jakarta
2019
Arisan Karya I, Museum MACAN, Jakarta
Reading Room, Silpe Gallery, Hartford Art School, USA
2018
Retooling Critique, Anti-Racist Classroom Conference, ArtCenter Gallery, Pasadena, California
“Nothingness, Carrying being in its heart” Distillery Gallery, Boston, USA
2017
Cultural Context Vol.I, Boston, USA
Between You and Me, Boston, USA
Materialisms, Gallery@ArtBlock, Boston, USA
ART RESIDENCIES
2025 Cortex Frontal, Portugal
2018 Monson Arts, Maine, USA
2017 Haystack Mountain School of Craft, Maine, USA