Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Emerge II
Summary
Emerge II (2022) is a hand-finished screen print at 70 x 50 cm, the second installment in a series Vhils first unveiled as a mural at Festival Iminente Lisboa that year. Signed and numbered, it develops a concept the artist had been experimenting with, translating a large public wall work into an editioned print for collectors.
Why It Matters
The direct lineage from a Festival Iminente mural gives Emerge II documented public-art provenance: it is the print counterpart to a physical wall piece. As the second part of the Emerge series, it extends an idea Vhils was actively developing, offering collectors a way to own an image that originated at monumental scale in Lisbon's cityscape.
Collector Perspective
Series works like Emerge and Emerge II invite paired collecting, and the mural origin adds narrative weight. The hand-finishing ensures each sheet varies. At 70 x 50 cm it is a manageable, framing-friendly size. Collectors valuing the connection between Vhils's street practice and his editions will appreciate the traceable link to a specific festival mural.
Historical Context
Festival Iminente is a Lisbon cultural event co-founded by Vhils that showcases street art, music, and performance, making it a natural launchpad for his imagery. Producing print editions from festival murals reflects a common practice among urban artists, converting ephemeral public works into collectible, portable objects tied to a documented moment and place.
FAQ
Where did the Emerge II image originate?
From a mural Vhils unveiled at Festival Iminente Lisboa in 2022, later translated into this print.
Is it part of a series?
Yes; it is the second part of the Emerge series of screen prints.
What is the size and medium?
A hand-finished screen print at 70 x 50 cm, signed and numbered.
What is Festival Iminente?
A Lisbon cultural festival co-founded by Vhils, spotlighting street art and music.
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.