Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Deface
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Deface is documented in this catalog as a 2010 Screen Print. The saved release record lists dimensions of 70 x 50 cm. The saved record attributes the release to Underdogs. The cataloged edition information is 30.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: Edition of 30 / 50 x 70cm. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
As a 2010 work, Deface is one of the earliest datable Vhils editions, showing his bleach-and-ink hand-finishing already established. The pointed title — to deface — reframes an act usually seen as vandalism into a deliberate creative gesture, aligning the print with the ethos of his street origins.
Collector Perspective
With an edition of just 30 and a 2010 date, Deface is both scarce and foundational, appealing to collectors seeking the origins of Vhils' print practice. The hand-painted bleach layer makes each impression unique, and the Alexandre Farto credit marks it as an early, pre-market-consolidation release.
Historical Context
Dating to 2010, Deface is among the earliest editioned Vhils prints, from the period when he still signed as Alexandre Farto aka Vhils. It documents the beginning of his studio translation of the corrosive, subtractive language he had been developing on walls.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned screenprint
- Release date
- 2010
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Screen Print; catalog dimensions 70 x 50 cm; 2 colours silkscreen and a last layer of ink and bleach handpainted; Sennelier paper 200gr.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: Edition of 30 / 50 x 70cm.
- Signature and marks
- The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Documented History and Meaning
History note: This page treats Vhils's broader career as background context, not proof that this specific edition belongs to any single exhibition or event. Release-level facts here come from a saved secondary catalog record.
Meaning / interpretation: Read as documented context rather than stated intent: Dating to 2010, Deface is among the earliest editioned Vhils prints, from the period when he still signed as Alexandre Farto aka Vhils. This is an interpretive reading of the release context, not a statement of the artist's intent for this specific work. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2010 and attributes the edition to Underdogs.
Authentication, Presentation and Provenance
- Original presentation
- Original packaging or presentation was not documented in the release sources reviewed.
- Authentication note
- Compare the support, dimensions, edition number, and signature against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet Gallery does not authenticate works purchased from third parties.
- Provenance note
- Edition origin is attributed in the saved record to Underdogs. That does not establish the ownership history of an individual copy: retain the original invoice, reseller or gallery paperwork, labels, correspondence, and condition photographs.
Sources and Verification
Verification status: Secondary catalog snapshot; artist-level context added
- Saved release record — Art Collectorz · secondary catalog snapshot · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Starting record for title, year, edition, dimensions, medium, and release description. Primary confirmation against the original release page remains pending.
- Vhils — official site — Vhils studio · primary artist source · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Official artist site; career context, not an individual-edition record.
- Vhils — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
- Vhils (Q115823) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.
FAQ
How early is Deface?
It dates to 2010, making it one of the earliest editioned Vhils prints.
What does the title suggest?
'Deface' reframes an act associated with vandalism as a deliberate creative gesture, tied to Vhils' street roots.
How large is the edition?
30 impressions on Sennelier 200gsm paper, each hand-finished with ink and bleach.
