Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Corrosion (First Edition)
Summary
Corrosion, from 2008, is a varied-edition hand-finished screen print of 17, made with ink and bleach and measuring 70 x 50 cm. The title names the process itself: bleach corroding printed ink to produce Vhils's characteristic weathered surface, with each of the 17 impressions varying through hand-finishing.
Why It Matters
Corrosion is Vhils's method made literal, the deliberate chemical breakdown of the image echoing how his wall portraits emerge through destruction of the surface. As a 2008 work in an edition of 17, it belongs to the rare, formative group of early prints where his erosion concept was rendered most directly.
Collector Perspective
With 17 varied impressions and bleach-driven finishing, this print offers real scarcity and sheet-level uniqueness. Because corrosion patterns differ, collectors are selecting a specific object, and the interaction of bleach and ink on the chosen sheet is the key visual variable. Verify signature, condition, and provenance for this early piece.
Historical Context
Created in 2008 at the outset of Vhils's editioned career, Corrosion shares its format and technique with Fading Glam, pointing to a coherent early body of bleach-and-ink experiments. This period, coinciding with his Cans Festival recognition, established the corrosive, subtractive language that defines his portraits and walls.
FAQ
What does the title describe?
The corrosive process itself, bleach eating into ink to create the eroded surface, mirroring Vhils's subtractive wall technique.
How limited is it?
Rare, at a varied edition of 17 hand-finished impressions.
Is it related to Fading Glam?
It shares the same 2008 year, 70 x 50 cm format, edition of 17, and ink-and-bleach technique, suggesting a common early series.
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.