Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Narrative
Summary
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.
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.
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.
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.