Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Core
Summary
Core (2020) is a hand-finished screen print in an edition of 300, produced with screen ink, Quink ink, bleach and acid on Keaykolour Original China White 300gsm paper at 50 by 70 cm. Signed and numbered by the artist, each impression bears individual variation from its hand-applied corrosive finishing.
Why It Matters
The title Core speaks to Vhils's excavation of essential identity, stripping surface layers to reach what lies beneath. The bleach-and-acid method performs that stripping on the paper itself. As a 2020 studio print, Core exemplifies the disciplined, concept-driven series through which Vhils rendered his monumental carving language at collectible scale.
Collector Perspective
An edition of 300 makes Core one of Vhils's more attainable hand-finished prints while preserving per-sheet uniqueness. The pencil signature, number and China White stock are the authentication points. As with the wider series, collectors should regard the acid-worked surface as intended and examine specific impressions for their individual character.
Historical Context
Released in 2020 through Underdogs, Core belongs to a consistent run of hand-finished screen prints that carried Vhils's carved-facade aesthetic to paper. His profile at the time was built on a decade-plus of portrait interventions carved into urban surfaces across the world.
FAQ
What does the title Core suggest?
It points to Vhils's excavation of essential identity beneath surface layers, central to his carving practice.
What is the edition size?
An edition of 300, signed and numbered by the artist.
How is it finished?
By hand with Quink ink, bleach and acid over the screen print, so no two sheets are identical.
What are the dimensions and paper?
50 by 70 cm on Keaykolour Original China White 300gsm.
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.