Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Faile Print Index
Memento Mori
Summary
Memento Mori is a 2007 Faile screen print, 28.5 x 19 inches, from an edition of 175. Its Latin title, meaning 'remember you must die,' places it directly within Faile's long-running engagement with religious and mortality iconography drawn from devotional and vernacular sources.
Why It Matters
Mortality and devotional imagery are core to Faile's visual language, and a work explicitly titled Memento Mori sits at the thematic heart of that concern. As a 2007 release, it represents the studio's earlier editions period. The edition of 175 makes it a widely available touchstone for the memento-mori strand of the catalog.
Collector Perspective
As a straight screen print rather than a hand-finished work, examples in this edition of 175 should be relatively consistent, so condition and clean registration are the key differentiators. Confirm the 2007 dating and the 28.5 x 19 dimensions. Collectors drawn to Faile's darker, religiously inflected imagery will find this a representative anchor.
Historical Context
The memento-mori tradition runs through centuries of religious art, and Faile folds it into a street-derived collage vocabulary. Produced in 2007, the work reflects the studio's habit of borrowing devotional and Latin-titled motifs, recontextualizing sacred warnings about mortality within a contemporary print practice.
FAQ
What does the title mean?
Memento Mori is Latin for 'remember you must die,' a classic mortality theme.
What year is it from?
2007, part of Faile's earlier editions period.
How many were made?
An edition of 175.
Is it hand-finished?
It is cataloged as a screen print, making examples relatively consistent across the run.
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.