Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Faile Print Index
Dancing Between Angels (First Edition)
Summary
Dancing Between Angels is a hand-painted varied edition of 22, produced with acrylic, silkscreen ink, and spray paint on Coventry Rag 320gsm at 28 x 40 inches. Carrying a Love Stories B-Side, each of the 22 impressions is individually worked so no two match, and every sheet is signed, stamped, and embossed.
Why It Matters
The hand-painted varied format sits at the top of FAILE's print hierarchy, blurring the line between edition and unique work. With only 22 examples and individual acrylic and spray-paint intervention on each, Dancing Between Angels functions closer to a series of one-of-a-kind paintings than a reproducible print, which is what drives its collector standing.
Collector Perspective
At a $2,500 release for a hand-worked sheet, this occupies FAILE's premium editioned tier. Because every impression is varied, collectors should assess the specific color palette and painterly composition of the exact example on offer. The Love Stories B-Side adds a two-sided dimension that rewards close inspection of the reverse.
Historical Context
FAILE's Love Stories body of work draws on romance-comic and pulp-melodrama imagery, a thread the duo has mined since their early collage practice. The large hand-finished varied editions extend the studio's screen-print tradition into painterly territory, a format they refined across the late 2010s and into 2020.
FAQ
Why is each impression different?
It is a hand-painted varied edition. Each of the 22 sheets receives individual acrylic and spray-paint work, so every impression is visually distinct.
What is a B-Side?
The reverse of the sheet carries a second related image, here a Love Stories B-Side, making the work double-sided by design.
How large is the edition?
Only 22 hand-painted impressions were produced, placing it among FAILE's most limited editioned works.
What media are used?
Acrylic, silkscreen ink, and spray paint on Coventry Rag 320gsm, each sheet signed, stamped, and embossed.
About the Artist
FAILE is a Brooklyn-based artistic collaboration founded in 1999 by Patrick McNeil and Patrick Miller. Known for a distinctive collage aesthetic that blends comic-book imagery, pulp advertising, religious iconography, and street-poster typography, FAILE built its reputation through wheat-pasted works and stencils in cities worldwide. The duo is celebrated for reviving printmaking and woodblock techniques, and for immersive installations such as their prayer-wheel and temple environments. Their work has been exhibited internationally, including projects with the New York City Ballet, bridging street practice and fine-art institutions.
Collecting Faile at Gauntlet Gallery
Which FAILE works are best to collect?
FAILE's signed, numbered silkscreen editions and their hand-finished wood and mixed-media pieces are the core of the market. Screenprints from their studio releases offer an accessible entry, while unique wooden "blocks" and painted works sit at the higher end. Gauntlet Gallery focuses on complete, well-preserved impressions with strong color registration.
How is a FAILE piece authenticated?
We sell FAILE works with documented studio provenance, backed by the edition's signature and numbering. Every piece is photographed as-is, including the signature, edition number, and any studio markings, so you can confirm details before purchase.
What makes one FAILE piece worth more?
Edition size, medium (unique wood pieces over open prints), iconic imagery, condition, and provenance from a known release all drive value. Hand-embellished and one-of-a-kind works consistently outperform standard editioned prints.