Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Corpocracy (First Edition)
Summary
Corpocracy, released in 2010 in a signed and numbered edition of 100, is a 76 x 57 cm silkscreen print individually hand-finished with ink wash and bleach. The title signals an overtly political register, and the hand-finishing means each impression carries unique corrosion and tonal variation across the run.
Why It Matters
The bleach-and-ink-wash finishing is central to Vhils's practice: bleach eats into printed ink the way weather and time erode a wall, embedding his theme of decay into the physical making of the print. With a pointed title like Corpocracy, this piece ties his signature erosion technique to explicit social critique.
Collector Perspective
Because every impression is hand-finished with bleach and ink wash, no two are identical, so collectors are choosing a specific object rather than an interchangeable one. Examine how the bleach interacts with the darker fields, and verify signature and numbering. Edition of 100 is moderate for the period.
Historical Context
Emerging in 2010 as Vhils gained global recognition, Corpocracy reflects the artist's roots in critiquing consumer imagery and institutional power, themes drawn from growing up amid Portugal's post-revolution urban landscape. The corporate-power title aligns with the anti-advertising undercurrent running through his poster and wall work.
FAQ
Why is each print different?
Every impression is individually hand-finished with ink wash and bleach, so the corrosion patterns and tones vary across the edition of 100.
What does the title refer to?
"Corpocracy" points to corporate power and institutional control, aligning with Vhils's recurring social and anti-advertising themes.
What medium is it?
A signed and numbered silkscreen print, hand-finished with ink wash and bleach, measuring 76 x 57 cm.
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.