Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Oxymoron
Summary
Oxymoron (2020) is a hand-finished screen print in an edition of 300, made with screen ink, Quink ink, bleach and acid on Keaykolour Original China White 300gsm paper at 50 by 70 cm. Signed and numbered by the artist, each impression carries individual surface variation from its hand-applied corrosive finishing.
Why It Matters
The title Oxymoron gestures at the tension at the heart of Vhils's method: creation through destruction, portraits made by removing rather than adding. The bleach-and-acid treatment literalises that contradiction on the paper. Within his 2020 print output, it is a strong example of the conceptual naming and subtractive technique that unify his editions.
Collector Perspective
An edition of 300 places Oxymoron in Vhils's accessible tier, though hand-finishing ensures each sheet is unique. Authentication rests on the pencil signature, number and the specified China White stock. Collectors should treat the acid-worked surface as intentional and inspect it in person where possible to appreciate the variation.
Historical Context
Issued in 2020 via Underdogs, Oxymoron sits among a cohort of hand-finished screen prints through which Vhils, born Alexandre Farto, brought his carved-wall aesthetic to collectors on paper. His reputation by then spanned major cities where his portrait interventions had become landmarks.
FAQ
Why is it titled Oxymoron?
The name reflects Vhils's paradox of making images by destroying surfaces, creation through subtraction.
What is the edition size?
An edition of 300, signed and numbered by the artist.
How is it finished?
By hand with Quink ink, bleach and acid over the screen print, so each sheet differs.
What are the dimensions?
50 by 70 cm on Keaykolour Original China White 300gsm paper.
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.