Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Faile Print Index
Raving Mad
Summary
Raving Mad is a 2008 hand-finished screen print in acrylic and silkscreen ink on Lenox 100 paper, 25 x 38 inches, from an edition of 16. Signed, stamped, and numbered Faile, it is described as a type piece built from global chatter, foregrounding text over Faile's usual figurative collage.
Why It Matters
Text-forward compositions are a distinct strand in Faile's practice, showing how the studio treated language and found typography as image in their own right. Assembling a work from 'global chatter' reflects the duo's collage logic applied to words rather than pictures, giving this piece documentary interest alongside its visual appeal.
Collector Perspective
Typographic Faile works appeal to collectors who value the studio's design lineage as much as its femme-fatale and tiger imagery. At an edition of 16, availability is a step above the single-digit runs. Confirm signature, stamp, and numbering, and evaluate the density of the type composition, which is central to how this particular work reads on the wall.
Historical Context
Faile's roots in graphic design and street lettering surface directly in its type pieces. Built in 2008 from fragments of 'global chatter,' Raving Mad channels the same appropriation instinct the duo applied to pulp covers, here turned toward the noise of language and mass communication.
FAQ
What kind of composition is this?
A text-driven type piece rather than a figurative collage.
What was it built from?
The studio describes it as assembled from global chatter, or fragments of language.
How many were made?
An edition of 16, hand-finished.
Is it signed and numbered?
Yes, signed, stamped, and numbered Faile, 2008.
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.