Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Changes (First Edition)
Summary
Changes (2016) is a four-colour lithograph with Quink ink and acid, printed on a Marioni press in an edition of 50 at 90 × 60 cm. Worked on hand-cut BFK Rives 270gsm paper, each sheet is signed, numbered, and hand-finished by the artist.
Why It Matters
Changes marries traditional multi-colour lithography with Vhils' destructive Quink-and-acid finishing, a pairing that defines his printmaking. The title underscores his abiding subject — transformation of surfaces, faces, and cities over time — rendered here through a labor-intensive press process rather than a wall.
Collector Perspective
The edition of 50 is notably tight for a Vhils lithograph, and the hand-cut BFK Rives with individual acid finishing makes each impression unique. Collectors value the combination of a classic lithographic base and the artist's corrosive hand, which elevates it above a purely mechanical print.
Historical Context
Vhils has worked repeatedly with fine lithographic ateliers, including the historic Idem Studio in Paris, to produce hand-cut editions. Changes belongs to this 2016 lithographic line, where Marioni-press printing meets his signature acid intervention on premium French paper.
FAQ
How large is the edition?
50 impressions, each signed, numbered, and hand-finished by the artist.
What press was used?
A Marioni press, printing a four-colour lithograph with Quink ink and acid.
What paper is it on?
Hand-cut BFK Rives 270gsm, a heavyweight French printmaking paper.
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.