Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Prevail
Summary
Prevail (2018) is a laser-engraved fragment of a demolished building in Lisbon, carrying a Vhils piece across brick, plaster, concrete and paint. Issued in an edition of 20 with signed and numbered certificates and various dimensions, it is a genuine architectural relic reworked into a signed artwork.
Why It Matters
Few editions embody Vhils' philosophy as directly as Prevail. Rather than depicting the city, it is the city, an actual piece of demolished Lisbon architecture bearing his engraved intervention. It collapses the distance between street practice and collectible object into a single found, altered fragment.
Collector Perspective
With only 20 examples and inherently varied dimensions, Prevail is a scarce and unrepeatable class of work. Each fragment differs in size and material makeup, so the certificate becomes essential to provenance. Collectors value it as a physical piece of the urban fabric Vhils works within.
Historical Context
Vhils' art is rooted in demolition, decay and the layered history of walls. Prevail (2018) takes this literally by salvaging material from a demolished Lisbon building, echoing the Portuguese urban transformation that has long informed Alexandre Farto's carving of the built environment.
FAQ
Is Prevail made from a real building?
Yes, each is a laser-engraved fragment of a demolished building in Lisbon, comprising brick, plaster, concrete and paint.
Why do dimensions vary?
Because each is a salvaged architectural fragment, sizes differ across the edition of 20.
How is it authenticated?
It is signed and numbered by the artist on an accompanying certificate.
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.