Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Roots
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Roots , from 2009, is a hand-finished screen print in a varied edition of 30, measuring 70 x 49.5 cm and signed by the artist. Its title gestures toward origin and belonging, and as a varied edition each of the 30 signed sheets carries distinct hand-finishing across the run.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: Each print is from an overall varied edition of 30, measures 70 x 49.5 cm, is signed by the artist, and available to purchase at. The saved release record describes: signed. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
With only 30 varied impressions, Roots sits among Vhils's rarest early editions. The title resonates with his enduring interest in identity and the layered histories embedded in people and places, themes he literally excavates by carving through wall surfaces. This print encodes that concern at a small, personal scale.
Collector Perspective
The edition of 30 and varied hand-finishing give Roots strong scarcity and object-specific character. Collectors should assess the individual sheet's finishing and confirm the artist's signature. Same dimensions and format as the untitled 2009 works, suggesting it belongs to a cohesive early series worth considering together.
Historical Context
Made in 2009 as Vhils transitioned from street recognition to gallery representation, Roots reflects the period just after his Cans Festival breakthrough. The theme of origins mirrors his broader practice of revealing what lies beneath surfaces, treating faces and walls as records of accumulated history.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned screenprint
- Release date
- 2009
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Screen Print | Hand Finished; catalog dimensions 70 x 49.5 cm.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: Each print is from an overall varied edition of 30, measures 70 x 49.5 cm, is signed by the artist, and available to purchase at.
- Signature and marks
- The saved release record describes: signed. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Documented History and Meaning
History note: This page treats Vhils's broader career as background context, not proof that this specific edition belongs to any single exhibition or event. Release-level facts here come from a saved secondary catalog record.
Meaning / interpretation: Read as documented context rather than stated intent: Made in 2009 as Vhils transitioned from street recognition to gallery representation, Roots reflects the period just after his Cans Festival breakthrough. This is an interpretive reading of the release context, not a statement of the artist's intent for this specific work. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2009 and attributes the edition to Lazarides Gallery.
Authentication, Presentation and Provenance
- Original presentation
- Original packaging or presentation was not documented in the release sources reviewed.
- Authentication note
- Compare the support, dimensions, edition number, and signature against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet Gallery does not authenticate works purchased from third parties.
- Provenance note
- Edition origin is attributed in the saved record to Lazarides Gallery. That does not establish the ownership history of an individual copy: retain the original invoice, reseller or gallery paperwork, labels, correspondence, and condition photographs.
Sources and Verification
Verification status: Secondary catalog snapshot; artist-level context added
- Saved release record — Art Collectorz · secondary catalog snapshot · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Starting record for title, year, edition, dimensions, medium, and release description. Primary confirmation against the original release page remains pending.
- Vhils — official site — Vhils studio · primary artist source · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Official artist site; career context, not an individual-edition record.
- Vhils — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
- Vhils (Q115823) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.
FAQ
How many were made?
It is a varied edition of 30, hand-finished and signed, making it one of Vhils's scarcer early prints.
What does the title suggest?
"Roots" evokes origin and identity, themes that run through Vhils's excavation-based portrait practice.
What are the dimensions?
70 x 49.5 cm, matching the format of his other 2009 hand-finished prints.
