Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Mortar
Summary
Mortar (2020) is a cement cast sculpture in an edition of 20 plus 5 artist's proofs, measuring 30 by 18 by 15 cm with an engraved signature and number. Rendered in cast cement, it brings Vhils's engagement with the raw materials of the built environment into a freestanding, three-dimensional object.
Why It Matters
Cement is the substance of the walls Vhils normally carves into, so casting a sculpture from it closes a conceptual loop: the material of the city becomes the artwork itself rather than merely its canvas. In a small edition of 20, Mortar is a scarce sculptural statement within a practice better known for two-dimensional and mural work.
Collector Perspective
Sculptural editions from Vhils are comparatively uncommon, and 20 examples plus 5 proofs make Mortar genuinely scarce. Cement is durable but can chip, so condition and careful handling matter. The engraved signature and number on the cast are the authentication anchors. For collectors, it offers dimensional variety within a Vhils holding.
Historical Context
Vhils built his reputation carving portraits into plaster and concrete walls, treating the city's fabric as both medium and message. Mortar, from 2020, inverts that gesture by making the construction material itself the finished object, extending his decade-long dialogue with urban surfaces into the round.
FAQ
What is Mortar made of?
It is a cement cast sculpture, using the same material Vhils typically carves into on walls.
How large is the edition?
An edition of 20 plus 5 artist's proofs.
How is it signed?
With an engraved signature and number on the cast object.
What are its dimensions?
30 by 18 by 15 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.