Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Atrito (First Edition)
Summary
Atrito (2014) is a hand-finished lithograph in an edition of 100 at 70 × 50 cm. Its Portuguese title means friction, and it was released for direct sale from Vhils' presence at Mercado da Ribeira in Lisbon, tying the edition to his home city.
Why It Matters
Atrito — friction — names the abrasive action by which Vhils reveals images from walls. Its distribution through Lisbon's Mercado da Ribeira grounds the edition in the artist's own city, connecting the studio print to the urban context that generates his imagery.
Collector Perspective
The in-store-only Lisbon release gives Atrito a localized distribution that can make it harder to source outside Portugal. As a hand-finished lithograph in an edition of 100, it combines the artist's corrosive touch with the tighter availability that its point-of-sale limitation implies.
Historical Context
Released in 2014 alongside Vhils' other Marinoni-era lithographs, Atrito reflects his rootedness in Lisbon, where Mercado da Ribeira served as a distribution point. The Portuguese titling reinforces the connection between his editions and his Portuguese urban origins.
FAQ
What does Atrito mean?
It is Portuguese for friction, referencing the abrasive process Vhils uses to reveal images from surfaces.
Why is it harder to find?
It was made available only in-store at Mercado da Ribeira in Lisbon, limiting its distribution.
What is the edition size?
100 hand-finished lithographs at 70 × 50 cm.
About the Artist
Vhils is the working name of Alexandre Farto, a Portuguese visual artist born in 1987 near Lisbon. He is internationally recognized for a pioneering "carving" technique in which he excavates portraits from layered walls, billboards, and surfaces using chisels, drills, and controlled explosives, effectively creating images by removing material rather than adding it. His large-scale murals appear in cities across the globe, and his studio editions translate this bas-relief, destructive-creation aesthetic into prints, laser-cut works, and mixed-media pieces. Vhils has exhibited widely and collaborated on major public and institutional projects.
Collecting Vhils at Gauntlet Gallery
What Vhils works can I collect?
Beyond his walls, Vhils produces signed, numbered studio editions including screenprints, hand-carved paper, laser-cut metal, and mixed-media relief works. Editions that preserve his signature carving texture are especially sought after. Gauntlet Gallery favors pieces in excellent condition with intact surfaces and complete documentation.
How is a Vhils piece authenticated?
We sell Vhils works with documented studio provenance, supported by the edition's signature and numbering. Each piece is photographed exactly as it will ship, including signature, edition number, and any embossing or studio marks, so details are verifiable up front.
What drives value?
Medium and technique (unique carved and relief works over flat prints), edition size, scale, condition, and documented provenance all shape price. Hand-worked, textural, and one-of-a-kind pieces carry the highest premiums.