Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Mensagem
Summary
Mensagem (2023) is a nine-colour lithograph on BFK Rives 270 g/m2 paper, 70 x 100 cm, created as a collaboration between Vhils (Alexandre Farto) and Portuguese modernist Manuel Cargaleiro. Printed on a Marinoni press at Idem Studio in Paris and signed by both artists, it is issued in an edition of 180 with 25 APs and 20 RNs.
Why It Matters
This is a rare cross-generational collaboration, uniting Vhils's contemporary street-derived portraiture with Cargaleiro, a celebrated figure of Portuguese modern art known for ceramics and colour. Nine-colour lithography at Idem Studio, the historic Paris atelier, signals a museum-grade production. The dual signature makes it a distinctive document of Portuguese art across two eras.
Collector Perspective
Collaborative editions signed by two artists carry particular appeal, especially when one is an established modern master. At 180 plus proofs, printed at the storied Idem Studio, Mensagem combines provenance pedigree with the reactive colour of a nine-plate lithograph. The large 70 x 100 cm format and BFK Rives archival stock make it a centerpiece-quality acquisition.
Historical Context
Idem Studio in Paris has printed for Picasso, Matisse, and Chagall, lending deep lithographic heritage to any edition made there. Manuel Cargaleiro (b. 1927) is a major Portuguese-French modernist. This 2023 pairing bridges Portugal's 20th-century avant-garde with its 21st-century street-art vanguard, an unusually direct lineage statement in a single print.
FAQ
Who collaborated on Mensagem?
Vhils (Alexandre Farto) and Portuguese modernist Manuel Cargaleiro, with both artists signing the edition.
Where was it printed?
On a Marinoni press at Idem Studio in Paris, a historic lithography atelier.
What is the edition size?
180, plus 25 artist's proofs and 20 RN impressions.
What makes it technically notable?
It is a nine-colour lithograph on BFK Rives 270 g/m2 paper at 70 x 100 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.