Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Relic (First Edition)
Summary
Relic (First Edition), 2020, is a hand-finished screen print in an edition of 200 plus 20 artist's proofs. Beyond screen ink, Vhils works the sheet with Quink ink, bleach and acid on Keaykolour Original China White 300gsm paper at 70 by 50 cm. Each is signed and numbered, and each carries hand-applied surface variation.
Why It Matters
The title Relic captures Vhils's central idea: the human face treated as an excavated artefact, revealed through erosion rather than addition. The bleach-and-acid finishing enacts that excavation on the paper itself. For collectors, Relic is a clear studio expression of the carving philosophy that made his wall works internationally recognised.
Collector Perspective
An edition of 200 with 20 proofs places Relic in Vhils's more available tier, yet the hand-finishing guarantees individuality. The China White 300gsm stock and pencil signature are the key authentication points. Because acid and bleach create intended irregularities, collectors should read surface texture as part of the work rather than as condition damage.
Historical Context
Released in 2020, Relic sits within a run of hand-finished screen prints through which Vhils, via his Underdogs gallery, brought the aesthetic of his carved facades to paper. By this point his reputation rested on more than a decade of large-scale portrait interventions carved into walls across multiple continents.
FAQ
What does the title Relic refer to?
It evokes the face as an unearthed artefact, consistent with Vhils's practice of revealing portraits through erosion.
How is the print hand-finished?
With Quink ink, bleach and acid applied over the screen print, creating unique surface effects on each sheet.
What is the edition size?
An edition of 200 plus 20 artist's proofs, all signed and numbered.
What paper is used?
Keaykolour Original China White 300gsm, at 70 by 50 cm.
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.