Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Bleach
Summary
Bleach (2017) is a screen print at 70 x 50 cm in an edition of 150, released for Festival Iminente in London through the Underdogs pop-up art store. It was offered at a special price on opening day with sales limited to one per customer, marking it as an event-tied release.
Why It Matters
Bleach names the defining chemical of Vhils' practice and was tied to Festival Iminente, the London edition of the festival co-founded by the artist. Its context as an opening-night, one-per-customer release links it to a specific cultural moment rather than a purely studio production.
Collector Perspective
The edition of 150 and its event-limited, one-per-buyer distribution give Bleach a defined provenance for collectors. Because it was released around a festival opening, examples reflect that occasion. Confirm the signature and numbering, and note the Underdogs and Festival Iminente association when assessing the piece.
Historical Context
Festival Iminente, associated with Vhils and the Underdogs platform he is linked to, brought Portuguese urban art culture to London in 2017. Bleach was released within that context, connecting the print directly to the festival and pop-up store that circulated it.
FAQ
What was Bleach's original release context?
It was released for Festival Iminente in London at the opening of the Underdogs pop-up art store, at a special price with a one-per-customer limit.
What is the edition size?
150, at 70 x 50 cm.
Why is the title significant?
Bleach references the corrosive agent central to Vhils' surface technique.
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.