Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Emerge
Summary
Emerge (2022) is a screen print on Keaykolour China White 300 g/m2 paper, 70 x 50 cm, printed with UV varnish and Quink ink and hand-finished, signed, and numbered. Issued in an edition of 200 with 20 APs, it is the first part of the Emerge series that Vhils developed and premiered as a mural at Festival Iminente Lisboa.
Why It Matters
As the founding piece of the Emerge series, this print introduces the concept later extended in Emerge II. The combination of UV varnish and Quink ink creates layered surface effects, with the varnish catching light against the matte China White stock. Its origin in a Festival Iminente mural gives it the same documented public-art pedigree as the series.
Collector Perspective
At an edition of 200 plus 20 APs, Emerge is a broadly available and approachable Vhils print, well suited to collectors beginning a Vhils holding or completing the Emerge pairing. The UV varnish and hand-finishing add tactile and optical interest beyond a flat screenprint. The archival Keaykolour stock and 70 x 50 cm scale make it easy to frame and display.
Historical Context
Vhils co-founded Festival Iminente, so premiering the Emerge concept there tied the work to his own cultural platform in Lisbon. UV varnish as a print finish gained traction in contemporary editions for its glossy, light-reactive contrast. Releasing an edition drawn from a festival mural continues the urban-artist tradition of making monumental public imagery collectible.
FAQ
What is the edition size of Emerge?
Edition of 200, plus 20 artist's proofs, signed and numbered.
How does it relate to Emerge II?
Emerge is the first part of the series; Emerge II is the second, both stemming from a Festival Iminente mural.
What finishing techniques are used?
UV varnish and Quink ink, with hand-finishing by the artist.
What paper is it on?
Keaykolour China White 300 g/m2 paper, 70 x 50 cm.
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.