Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Mortar
Work Summary & Collector Notes
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.
Collector notes: Edition of 20 plus 5 artist's proofs according to the saved release record. Edition-specific signature, numbering, and stamp details were not stated in the saved release record. Verify signing and numbering against a documented example of this edition.
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.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned sculpture / object
- Release date
- 2020
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Sculpture; catalog dimensions 30 x 18 x 15 cm.
- Edition details
- Edition of 20 plus 5 artist's proofs according to the saved release record.
- Signature and marks
- Edition-specific signature, numbering, and stamp details were not stated in the saved release record. Verify signing and numbering 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 2020 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 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.
