Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Narrative
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Released in 2023, Narrative translates Vhils's signature excavation aesthetic into embossed glazed ceramic tiles measuring 57.5 x 43 cm. The medium nods directly to Portugal's azulejo tradition, reframing the artist's wall-carving language as a raised, tactile portrait. Issued in a limited series of 50 with 5 artist's proofs, it is among his most sculptural editioned works.
Collector notes: Edition of 50 plus 5 artist's proofs according to the saved release record. The saved release record describes: embossed / blind-stamped. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
Vhils is best known for chiselling faces out of decayed urban walls, so a ceramic tile edition is a deliberate inversion: instead of removing material he builds relief up through glaze and emboss. The piece bridges Lisbon's centuries-old tile heritage with his contemporary portraiture, making it a conceptually loaded object rather than a print translation.
Collector Perspective
At an edition of 50 plus 5 APs, this sits among the scarcer Vhils multiples, and its three-dimensional ceramic format sets it apart from the paper-based body of work most collectors encounter. The glazed surface and wall-referencing material give it strong display presence. Condition considerations differ from prints: chips, crazing, and mounting integrity matter more than paper handling.
Historical Context
Alexandre Farto, working as Vhils, emerged from Lisbon's graffiti scene and built an international reputation for portraits carved into building facades. Ceramic azulejos have decorated Portuguese architecture since the 16th century. By 2023, Vhils had increasingly explored material culture rooted in his home country, and Narrative reflects that dialogue between vernacular craft and street-derived imagery.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned sculpture / object
- Release date
- 2023
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Sculpture | Ceramic; catalog dimensions 57.5 x 43 cm; Embossed glazed ceramic tiles.
- Edition details
- Edition of 50 plus 5 artist's proofs according to the saved release record.
- Signature and marks
- The saved release record describes: embossed / blind-stamped. 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 2023 and attributes the edition to Magda Danysz Gallery.
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 Magda Danysz Gallery. 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 the edition size of Narrative?
It was issued as a limited series of 50, plus 5 artist's proofs.
What material is it made from?
Embossed glazed ceramic tiles, measuring 57.5 x 43 cm.
How does this relate to Vhils's usual work?
It inverts his carving method: rather than removing wall material, the imagery is built up in raised, glazed relief, while referencing Portugal's azulejo tile tradition.
Is this a print?
No. It is a ceramic relief object, which makes it distinct from his paper-based editions.
