Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Faile Print Index
War Profiteers: Syriana
Summary
War Profiteers: Syriana is a Faile varied edition of five, dated 2006 in the artist's note, made with acrylic, silkscreen, and painting on Lenox 100 paper at 25 x 38 inches. Backgrounds vary across the run, and the pointed political title references the film Syriana and the geopolitics of the oil trade. Signed, stamped, and numbered.
Why It Matters
War Profiteers: Syriana is among Faile's more overtly political works, engaging directly with themes of conflict and profiteering rather than pulp romance or iconography. At a varied edition of five with varying backgrounds and hand-painting, each impression is genuinely unique, and the topical title gives it a distinct place in the collective's catalog.
Collector Perspective
An edition of five makes this very scarce, and the varying backgrounds mean no two sheets are alike. Collectors interested in Faile's political dimension value the Syriana reference and the added hand-painting on the large Lenox 100 sheet. Note the artist dates the work 2006, a detail worth verifying against the signature and stamp.
Historical Context
Dated 2006 by Faile, War Profiteers: Syriana reflects the mid-2000s cultural moment when the film Syriana and debates over the oil economy were prominent. The work shows Faile applying their collage-and-spraypaint methods to explicitly political subject matter, broadening their thematic range.
FAQ
What year is this work?
Although catalogued under 2007, Faile's own note dates War Profiteers: Syriana to 2006. The signature and stamp should be checked against this.
How many were made?
It is a varied edition of five with varying backgrounds, in acrylic, silkscreen, and painting on Lenox 100 paper, signed, stamped, and numbered.
What does the title reference?
It references the 2005 film Syriana and the geopolitics of the oil trade, placing it among Faile's more overtly political works.
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.