Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Decay
Summary
Decay, from 2008, is a varied-edition hand-finished screen print of just 11, measuring 70 x 50 cm. With an edition this small and each impression individually finished, it stands among the rarest works in Vhils's catalogue, a near-unique object that names outright the central theme of his practice.
Why It Matters
An edition of only 11 makes Decay exceptionally scarce, and its title is a direct statement of Vhils's guiding idea: that erosion, weathering, and the passage of time reveal rather than destroy. Dated 2008, it is among his earliest prints, capturing the concept at its most distilled and least mediated.
Collector Perspective
With just 11 varied impressions, this is one of the scarcest Vhils prints a collector can pursue, effectively a series of unique works. Availability is minimal and each sheet differs. Given the 2008 date and hand-finishing, condition and provenance verification are essential, as is confirming the impression's specific character.
Historical Context
2008 places Decay at the very start of Vhils's editioned output, the same period as his Cans Festival breakthrough. The theme of decay underpins his entire method of carving into and stripping back surfaces, treating deterioration as a form of revelation, an idea this early, tiny-edition print names explicitly.
FAQ
How rare is this print?
Extremely rare, with a varied edition of just 11 hand-finished impressions.
Why is the title significant?
"Decay" names the core concept of Vhils's work, where erosion and time reveal images rather than erase them.
When was it made?
2008, among the earliest prints in Vhils's catalogue.
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.