Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Contrive Series #01
Summary
Contrive Series #01 (2019) is a hand-finished lithograph in an edition of 30, worked with Quink ink and acid at 95 by 70 cm. As the opening image in the Contrive Series, it combines lithographic printing with Vhils's corrosive hand-finishing, and its small edition makes each impression a scarce, individually varied object.
Why It Matters
The Contrive Series merges lithography with the acid-and-Quink treatment usually reserved for Vhils's screen prints, a hybrid technique that unites fine art printmaking with his signature erosion. At 30 examples, #01 opens a tightly editioned sequence, giving collectors a rare, hand-worked expression of his method on a large sheet.
Collector Perspective
With only 30 impressions, Contrive #01 is notably scarce compared with Vhils's 200-to-300 screen print runs. The hand-applied acid ensures each sheet differs, and the large 95 by 70 cm format commands wall presence. Collectors drawn to completeness may pursue the full five-part series; the signature and number are the authentication checks.
Historical Context
Issued in 2019, the Contrive Series reflects Vhils experimenting across print media, applying his corrosive finishing to lithographs rather than screen prints. It sits within a decade-plus practice built on carving portraits into urban surfaces, here distilled into a limited, technically hybrid edition of just 30.
FAQ
What technique is used?
Lithography combined with hand-applied Quink ink and acid, a hybrid of printmaking and Vhils's erosion method.
How large is the edition?
An edition of 30, making it scarce relative to his screen print runs.
What number is this in the series?
It is #01, the opening image of the five-part Contrive Series.
What is the size?
95 by 70 cm, a large-format sheet.
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.