Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Faile Print Index
My Life
Summary
My Life is a hand-painted varied edition of roughly 18 to 19, produced with acrylic, silkscreen ink, and spray paint on Coventry Rag 320gsm at 28 x 40 inches. It carries a 19:86 B-Side, and each impression is signed, stamped, and embossed. The individual painterly work makes every sheet in this small run distinct.
Why It Matters
With one of the smallest edition sizes in FAILE's varied output, My Life sits firmly in the studio's premium tier. The 19:86 B-Side ties the sheet to the duo's recurring 1986 numerology, and the hand-applied acrylic and spray paint on each impression push the work toward the unique-object end of the print spectrum.
Collector Perspective
Released at $1,950 in a run of under 20, My Life is genuinely scarce. Collectors should evaluate the specific impression's palette and painterly composition, confirm the signature, stamp, and embossing, and treat the 19:86 B-Side as part of the total work. The very small edition heightens the significance of each surviving example.
Historical Context
The 19:86 reference recurs throughout FAILE's practice as a signature motif embedded in titles and B-Sides. My Life belongs to the studio's late-2010s program of large hand-finished varied editions, the most labor-intensive category of their editioned work and the closest to their unique paintings.
FAQ
How limited is My Life?
It is a hand-painted varied edition of roughly 18 to 19 impressions, among the smallest in FAILE's editioned catalog.
What is the 19:86 B-Side?
A second image on the reverse referencing FAILE's recurring 1986 motif, making the sheet double-sided.
Are impressions identical?
No. Each sheet is individually hand-painted with acrylic and spray paint, so every impression is unique.
What paper is used?
Coventry Rag 320gsm, a heavyweight archival cotton stock, with each sheet signed, stamped, and embossed.
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.