Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Deplete
Summary
Deplete (2022) is a risograph print on paper, 42 x 30 cm, signed and numbered in an edition of 210 with 20 APs. Rendered in the bold, textured flat tones characteristic of the riso process, it presents a Vhils portrait at a modest, accessible scale, distinct from his heavier chemically finished editions.
Why It Matters
Compared to his acid-and-bleach works, Deplete foregrounds the risograph medium itself, whose grain and slight registration character give the portrait a graphic, printerly quality. It shows Vhils working in a more straightforward reproduction format while retaining his eroded-portrait imagery, broadening the range of techniques across his 2022 output.
Collector Perspective
At 210 plus 20 APs and a compact 42 x 30 cm, Deplete is one of the more approachable and affordable Vhils editions, well suited to newer collectors or grouped display. The risograph medium gives it a distinctive texture at a lower price point than his hand-finished or sculptural works. Standard archival framing with acid-free materials is recommended.
Historical Context
Risograph printing, a stencil-based duplication technology, has been widely adopted by contemporary and street artists for its economy and bold aesthetic. Vhils used riso across several 2022 editions, including Jaunt and bleach-worked pieces. Deplete represents the medium in a cleaner form, part of a body of accessible works that widened his collector base.
FAQ
What is the edition size of Deplete?
Edition of 210, plus 20 artist's proofs, signed and numbered.
What is the medium?
A risograph print on paper, 42 x 30 cm.
How does it differ from his bleach and acid works?
Deplete foregrounds the risograph process itself rather than adding reactive chemical finishing.
Is it an accessible piece?
Yes; its compact size and riso medium make it one of his more affordable editions.
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.