Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Faile Print Index
SSYM Portfolio (First Edition)
Summary
The SSYM Portfolio is FAILE's 2015 complete set: a custom linen clamshell box with copper-foil deboss, 24.5 x 36.5 x 2 inches, holding six 23 x 35 inch silkscreen prints on Coventry Rag 325gsm plus a colophon page. The portfolio is limited to an edition of 100.
Why It Matters
Owning the full SSYM Portfolio means holding the series as its makers intended — six coordinated prints, a colophon, and a bespoke presentation box. At an edition of only 100, the complete set is markedly scarcer than the individual sheets and represents the definitive form of the program.
Collector Perspective
This is the top-tier acquisition for SSYM collectors. Completeness is everything: an intact portfolio with all six prints, the colophon, and the copper-foil-debossed clamshell commands a different standing than assembled loose sheets. Condition of the linen box and colophon materially affects desirability.
Historical Context
Portfolio boxes are a traditional fine-art format for presenting a unified print suite, and FAILE adopted it for SSYM to bind its 2015–2016 screen program into a single collectible object. The custom clamshell and colophon signal the studio's intent to frame the series as a definitive statement.
FAQ
How many prints are in the portfolio?
Six silkscreen prints on Coventry Rag 325gsm, each 23 x 35 inches, plus a colophon page.
What is the portfolio edition size?
100, making the complete set scarcer than individual sheets.
How is the set presented?
In a custom linen clamshell portfolio box with copper-foil deboss, 24.5 x 36.5 x 2 inches.
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.