Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Expanse
Work Summary & Collector Notes
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.
Collector notes: Edition of 50 plus 5 artist's proofs according to the saved release record. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
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.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned sculpture / object
- Release date
- 2021
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Giclee Print | Sculpture; catalog dimensions 30 x 36 x 9 cm.
- Edition details
- Edition of 50 plus 5 artist's proofs according to the saved release record.
- Signature and marks
- The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Documented History and Meaning
History note: This page treats Vhils's broader career as background context, not proof that this specific edition belongs to any single exhibition or event. Release-level facts here come from a saved secondary catalog record.
Meaning / interpretation: No per-work artist statement is recorded for this edition. Any thematic reading should be treated as interpretation of the imagery, not a documented statement of the artist's intent. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2021 and attributes the edition to Underdogs.
Authentication, Presentation and Provenance
- Original presentation
- Original packaging or presentation was not documented in the release sources reviewed.
- Authentication note
- Compare the support, dimensions, edition number, and signature against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet Gallery does not authenticate works purchased from third parties.
- Provenance note
- Edition origin is attributed in the saved record to Underdogs. That does not establish the ownership history of an individual copy: retain the original invoice, reseller or gallery paperwork, labels, correspondence, and condition photographs.
Sources and Verification
Verification status: Secondary catalog snapshot; artist-level context added
- Saved release record — Art Collectorz · secondary catalog snapshot · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Starting record for title, year, edition, dimensions, medium, and release description. Primary confirmation against the original release page remains pending.
- Vhils — official site — Vhils studio · primary artist source · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Official artist site; career context, not an individual-edition record.
- Vhils — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
- Vhils (Q115823) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.
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.
