Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Carving Cities
Summary
Carving Cities (2011) is a laser-etched work at roughly 24 × 19.5 inches in an edition of 40. The etching process cuts the image into the surface, directly echoing the carving method by which Vhils reveals faces from walls.
Why It Matters
Where most editions reproduce Vhils' carved imagery, Carving Cities uses an actual subtractive process — etching cut into the material — to make the medium itself perform his signature act. The title states his practice plainly: excavating portraits and forms from the fabric of the city.
Collector Perspective
The etched, incised surface gives Carving Cities a physical, relief-like quality distinct from his ink-based prints. An edition of 40 keeps it relatively scarce, and the process-driven nature of the work appeals to collectors drawn to the sculptural, carved dimension of Vhils' output.
Historical Context
Created in 2011, Carving Cities reflects Vhils' interest in using tools that physically remove material, consistent with the drilling and carving of his wall work. It stands among his early editions exploring media beyond conventional screen printing and lithography.
FAQ
How is the image created?
By laser etching, which cuts the image into the surface rather than printing ink onto it.
Why does the technique suit Vhils?
Etching is a subtractive, carving process, mirroring how he reveals images by removing surface material from walls.
What is the edition size?
40 examples at roughly 24 × 19.5 inches.
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.