Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Expanse
Summary
Expanse (2021) is a three-dimensional work combining UV print on acrylic with laser-engraved acrylic, measuring 30 x 36 x 9 cm. Signed and numbered in an edition of 50 with 5 APs, its layered acrylic construction gives real physical depth, translating Vhils's portraiture into a sculptural object rather than a flat print.
Why It Matters
The 9 cm depth is the key feature: by combining printed and laser-engraved acrylic layers, Expanse creates a genuine three-dimensional portrait with interplay between the planes. It reflects Vhils's ongoing interest in depth and excavation, achieving through transparent layering what he elsewhere achieves by carving, and offering a light-catching, dimensional viewing experience.
Collector Perspective
At an edition of 50 plus 5 APs, Expanse is a scarcer, object-based work that stands out from paper editions. Its freestanding or wall-mounted acrylic form gives it strong presence and light interaction. Collectors should handle acrylic carefully to avoid scratching and note that the layered construction is the piece's defining and most fragile feature.
Historical Context
Laser-engraved and printed acrylic has become a popular medium for creating depth in contemporary editions, letting artists build dimensional imagery from transparent layers. For Vhils, whose signature is excavated depth on walls, acrylic layering offers a complementary strategy. Expanse sits among his 2021 sculptural editions that expand his practice beyond paper and concrete.
FAQ
What makes Expanse three-dimensional?
It combines UV-printed acrylic with laser-engraved acrylic in layers, giving it a 9 cm depth.
What is the edition size?
Edition of 50, plus 5 artist's proofs, signed and numbered.
What are its dimensions?
30 x 36 x 9 cm, a compact but genuinely dimensional object.
Is it a print or a sculpture?
It blends both: a printed and engraved acrylic construction that functions as a sculptural object.
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.