Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Faile Print Index
Forbidden Love (Stencil)
Summary
Forbidden Love is an intaglio-wiped wood print with acrylic and spraypaint on Somerset Textured 300g paper, measuring 29.5 x 41 inches. Signed, stamped, and numbered Faile 2008 in an edition of 9, it combines woodblock intaglio technique with hand-applied spraypaint in a blue-green treatment.
Why It Matters
The intaglio-wiped wood process is a distinctive and technically demanding method within Faile's practice, and combining it with acrylic and spraypaint yields a richly textured, hand-built surface. At an edition of 9, this is a scarce, process-driven work that showcases the duo's experimentation with printmaking traditions.
Collector Perspective
With only 9 examples and heavy hand-work, Forbidden Love is very scarce and each sheet is effectively unique in its spraypaint treatment. Collectors should verify the 2008 signing and numbering and examine the Somerset Textured sheet for the intaglio impression quality and paint stability.
Historical Context
Around 2008 Faile explored intaglio-wiped wood printing, a labor-intensive technique that pulls ink from carved wood surfaces. Paired with spraypaint on heavyweight Somerset stock, Forbidden Love reflects the duo's willingness to blend fine-art printmaking with street-derived materials in tightly limited editions.
FAQ
What technique was used?
It is an intaglio-wiped wood print combined with acrylic and spraypaint.
What is the edition size?
The edition is 9.
What paper was used?
Somerset Textured 300g, at 29.5 x 41 inches.
When was it signed?
It is signed, stamped, and numbered Faile 2008.
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.