Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Deterioration
Summary
Deterioration (2014) is a four-colour lithograph with Quink ink and acid, printed on a Marinoni press in an edition of 100 at 85 × 60 cm. On hand-cut BFK Rives 270gsm paper, each impression is signed, numbered, and hand-finished by the artist.
Why It Matters
The title Deterioration names the process at the heart of Vhils' art: surfaces breaking down to reveal what lies beneath. The acid finishing enacts that decay on the litho itself, making the work a self-referential statement about erosion as a creative rather than purely destructive force.
Collector Perspective
An edition of 100 four-colour lithographs with hand-applied acid gives collectors both scale and uniqueness at 85 × 60 cm. As a 2014 work, it is among the earlier of Vhils' Marinoni-pressed acid lithographs, offering a foundational example of the technique he would refine over the following years.
Historical Context
Deterioration is an early instance of Vhils' combined litho-and-acid method, predating the closely related Changes (2016) and Contingency (2015). Together these BFK Rives editions map the development of his corrosive lithographic language across the mid-2010s.
FAQ
How does the title relate to the technique?
The acid finishing literally deteriorates the printed surface, mirroring the erosion central to Vhils' practice.
What year and edition is it?
2014, an edition of 100 four-colour lithographs.
What press and paper?
A Marinoni press on hand-cut BFK Rives 270gsm paper.
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.