Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Faile Print Index
Kool Living (Timed Edition)
Summary
Kool Living is a 2020 giclee print produced by FAILE as a 48-hour timed limited edition, printed with archival ink on Entrada 290gsm cotton rag at 24 x 30 inches. Each impression is embossed, signed, and numbered. The timed-release format meant the final edition size was set by demand within the window rather than fixed in advance.
Why It Matters
The 48-hour timed edition is a signature FAILE release mechanic that ties the ultimate edition size directly to collector participation during a fixed window. Because no cap was pre-announced, the true rarity of Kool Living was only knowable after the sale closed, making it an accessible but structurally distinctive entry in the studio's giclee output.
Collector Perspective
At its original $200 release price on cotton rag, Kool Living reads as an approachable acquisition point into FAILE's editioned work. Collectors should confirm the embossing, signature, and hand-inscribed number, and verify the final edition figure for the specific timed window, since timed releases produce non-standard totals that affect how scarce a given impression truly is.
Historical Context
By 2020 FAILE, the Brooklyn duo of Patrick McNeil and Patrick Miller, had long moved from wheatpaste street work into a mature studio practice spanning prints, sculpture, and installation. Timed giclee editions like Kool Living reflected a broader print-market shift toward demand-driven drops that many contemporary studios adopted during this period.
FAQ
What does 48-hour timed edition mean?
The print was available to order only within a 48-hour window, and the final edition size was determined by how many collectors purchased during that period rather than being capped in advance.
How is Kool Living authenticated?
Each impression is embossed, hand-signed, and numbered by FAILE. Collectors should confirm all three markers are present on the archival cotton rag sheet.
What is it printed on?
Archival ink on Entrada 290gsm cotton rag, a heavyweight fine-art paper suited to long-term display and preservation.
What size is the print?
It measures 24 x 30 inches (listed as 30 x 24), a substantial format for a giclee edition.
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.