Gauntlet Gallery — Kai & Sunny Print Index
Just An Illusion 1
Summary
Just An Illusion 1 (2013) is a hand-pulled four-colour screen print by Kai & Sunny, printed in black, lilac, pink and white glitter on heavyweight 100% cotton Somerset Tub Sized Satin 420gsm. Portrait-oriented at 102.5 x 152.4 cm unframed and released in an edition of five, it is one of the duo's largest and most chromatically ambitious editions.
Why It Matters
Where much of Kai & Sunny's print output is monochrome, the four-colour palette here — lilac and pink layered against black and glitter — signals a more painterly, illusionistic register. The title itself points to the optical push-pull the artists build from their flowing linear fields. An edition of five keeps it firmly in rarefied territory.
Collector Perspective
The four-colour build and 420gsm satin stock make registration and condition central to value; check for tight colour alignment and no glitter loss. At over 1.5 metres tall in an edition of five, this is a statement wall piece, and the scarcity plus larger colour range distinguishes it from the duo's more common two-colour prints.
Historical Context
Produced in the same 2013 window as other large Kai & Sunny nest and pattern works, Just An Illusion 1 reflects the pair's mature phase, when their exhibition profile allowed ambitious multi-colour editions on premium Somerset stock rather than smaller souvenir prints.
FAQ
How many colours are used?
Four: black, lilac, pink and white glitter, hand-pulled as a screen print.
What is the edition size?
Five, one of the artists' most limited large-format releases.
What paper is it printed on?
100% Cotton Somerset Tub Sized Satin at a heavy 420gsm.
What orientation and size is the work?
Portrait, 102.5 x 152.4 cm unframed, roughly 120 x 170 cm framed.
About the Artist
Kai & Sunny are a London-based artistic duo, Kai Clements and Sunny Todd, who met at art college and have collaborated since the late 1990s. They are known for intricate, hand-drawn line work exploring nature, patterns, and the forces of the natural world, often rendered as flowing, wind-swept compositions. Beyond fine-art prints and installations, they have built a notable design career, including celebrated collaborations with author Ben Okri and cover artwork for Penguin's editions of J.G. Ballard. Their editions are published in tightly controlled runs and have been exhibited internationally.
Collecting Kai & Sunny at Gauntlet Gallery
What Kai & Sunny works should I collect?
Their signed, numbered silkscreen editions, often featuring metallic inks, blind embossing, and hand-finished detail, are the heart of the market. Foil and layered prints in small runs are especially collectible. Gauntlet Gallery selects pieces in pristine condition with crisp embossing and complete signing.
How is authenticity handled?
Kai & Sunny editions are offered with documented studio provenance and the duo's signature and numbering. We photograph the specific piece you will receive, including signature, edition number, and any embossing, so every detail is verifiable before you buy.
What drives value?
Small edition sizes, special finishes (foil, embossing, hand-work), condition, and provenance from a documented release drive value. Sold-out, low-numbered, and specially finished editions command the strongest premiums.