Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Oxidra
Summary
Oxidra is a 2025 Vhils sculpture cast in concrete and iron oxide, measuring 25 by 37 by 25.8 centimetres and weighing 25 kilograms. Signed and numbered by the artist, it was released in an edition of 45 plus 10 artist proofs as a fully three-dimensional work.
Why It Matters
Concrete and iron oxide are core materials of Vhils's practice, drawn directly from the fabric of the built environment, and casting them into a sculpture brings his wall-based language into freestanding form. The rusting iron oxide introduces the decay and weathering central to his aesthetic.
Collector Perspective
As a heavy cast sculpture in an edition of 45, Oxidra offers dimensional presence that prints cannot, and its industrial materials are exceptionally durable. Collectors should plan for its 25-kilogram weight in display and shipping, but it rewards as a substantial three-dimensional statement.
Historical Context
Produced in 2025, Oxidra reflects Vhils's ongoing use of construction materials as artistic media. Concrete anchors his work to the urban wall, while iron oxide evokes the corrosion and time that define his portraits of decay.
FAQ
What is Oxidra made of?
Cast concrete and iron oxide, giving it an industrial texture and rust-toned coloration.
How heavy is it?
Approximately 25 kilograms, so display and shipping require appropriate support.
What is the edition size?
Forty-five signed and numbered sculptures plus 10 artist proofs.
Why iron oxide?
It introduces rust and weathering, central to Vhils's aesthetic of urban decay and the passage of time.
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.