Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Faile Print Index
Heat Wave (Grapeade)
Summary
Grapeade Heat Wave is a 2023 hand-finished print in acrylic, silkscreen ink, and spray paint on paper, sized 25 x 38 inches in an edition of just 12. Embossed, signed, and numbered, the Grapeade colorway sits at the scarce, hand-worked end of Faile's output, where mixed media and a tiny run reinforce each impression's individuality.
Why It Matters
With only 12 examples, Grapeade Heat Wave is among the more limited pieces in this group. The combination of acrylic, spray paint, and silkscreen echoes the studio's street-derived layering, and the specific Grapeade colorway distinguishes it from other Heat Wave variants, a collecting nuance the studio frequently builds into its editions.
Collector Perspective
An edition of 12 with hand-applied spray and acrylic makes this a scarce, variation-driven print. Collectors should verify the emboss, signature, and number, and understand that the Grapeade name denotes a specific colorway among siblings. Surface condition of the spray and acrylic layers is a key inspection point given the low run.
Historical Context
Faile often issues a single composition across multiple hand-painted colorways, each in a very small edition, a strategy that rewards attentive collectors. Grapeade Heat Wave reflects this practice, applying the studio's aerosol-and-silkscreen technique, honed in their street-art years, to a large-format, tightly limited 2023 release.
FAQ
How scarce is Grapeade Heat Wave?
It is an edition of only 12, each hand-finished.
What does Grapeade refer to?
It denotes a specific colorway of the Heat Wave composition.
What media were used?
Acrylic, silkscreen ink, and spray paint on paper, sized 25 x 38 inches.
Is it signed and numbered?
Yes, it is embossed, signed, and numbered FAILE 2023.
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.