Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Faile Print Index
Mary Stab (In Purple / Red)
Summary
"Mary Stab (In Purple / Red)" is a hand-painted, silkscreened mixed-media work on Lenox 100 paper at 38 x 50 inches, from a varied edition of 15, signed and stamped by Faile. The source dates the piece to 2003. It renders a religious Mary figure in a purple and red treatment at large gallery scale.
Why It Matters
The Mary subject places this among Faile's religious and iconographic imagery, where devotional figures are recast through the studio's collage aesthetic. As a large hand-painted multiple of 15, each impression is substantially unique, and the purple/red colorway with its charged "Stab" title gives the work a provocative, ambivalent tone.
Collector Perspective
The source lists a 2003 date against the 2006 catalog year, so verify the exact date, title, and edition before buying. As a hand-painted multiple of 15 at 38 x 50 inches, impressions vary meaningfully — request images of the specific sheet, confirm the purple/red colorway, and check the signature and stamp on the Lenox 100 stock.
Historical Context
Faile has repeatedly drawn on religious iconography, pairing devotional imagery with pulp and street motifs to unsettling effect. The Mary figure here belongs to that thread. Produced as a large hand-painted multiple on archival Lenox paper, it reflects the studio's ambitious editioned works that approach the scale and uniqueness of original paintings.
FAQ
What subject does this depict?
It features a religious Mary figure, part of Faile's iconographic imagery, in a purple and red colorway.
Is it a unique work?
It is a hand-painted multiple from a varied edition of 15, so each impression is individually painted and unique.
What size and paper?
38 x 50 inches on Lenox 100 paper, combining silkscreen and hand-painting.
Why is the date ambiguous?
The source lists 2003 while the catalog year is 2006; confirm the exact date with the seller before purchase.
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.