Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Dusk (First Edition)
Summary
Dusk (First Edition), 2020, is a hand-finished screen print in an edition of 250 plus 25 artist's proofs. Vhils works the sheet with screen ink, Quink ink, bleach and acid on Keaykolour Original China White 300gsm paper at 70 by 50 cm. Signed and numbered, each impression carries individual hand-applied surface effects.
Why It Matters
Dusk belongs to the core group of acid-and-bleach screen prints that define Vhils's studio output. The subtractive chemistry, letting corrosive agents shape the image, restates his carving philosophy on paper. The evocative title reinforces the mood of emergence and disappearance that runs through his portraits of anonymous faces surfacing from eroded ground.
Collector Perspective
With 250 impressions and 25 proofs, Dusk is among the more available Vhils editions, offering an entry into his hand-finished paper work. The China White stock and pencil signature are key checks. Because the bleach-and-acid finishing is applied individually, collectors should expect and value the natural variation between numbered sheets.
Historical Context
Produced in 2020 through Vhils's Underdogs gallery, Dusk reflects a period when the artist consistently translated his monumental carving language into editioned prints. His international standing at the time rested on more than a decade of portrait interventions carved into walls and billboards worldwide.
FAQ
What is the edition size?
An edition of 250 plus 25 artist's proofs, all signed and numbered.
How is the surface treated?
With Quink ink, bleach and acid over the screen print, producing unique effects on every sheet.
What paper is used?
Keaykolour Original China White 300gsm at 70 by 50 cm.
Are all impressions identical?
No. The hand-finishing means each numbered print varies slightly.
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.