Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Sever 02
Summary
Sever 02 (2022) is the companion to Sever 01: a two-colour screenprint on plexiglass over street-collected advertising posters, mounted on wood, at 70 x 100 cm. Signed and numbered in an edition of 50, each example varies in colour and composition because of the unique salvaged posters layered beneath the screenprinted surface.
Why It Matters
As the second in the Sever pairing, this work continues Vhils's direct engagement with real urban material, embedding torn advertising strata beneath plexiglass. The variation between examples again means each is effectively unique. Together the two Sever works form a small body exploring the same décollage-derived assemblage method at a substantial scale.
Collector Perspective
Collectors may pursue both Sever works as a pair, or treat Sever 02 independently. The edition of 50 combined with unique found posters gives it the appeal of a one-off within a numbered series. As a plexiglass-and-wood object it needs considered mounting; its authenticity of materials, real street posters, is a strong draw for collectors of urban art.
Historical Context
Like its companion, Sever 02 descends from the décollage tradition of Villeglé and the Nouveau Réalistes, who elevated torn city posters to fine art. Vhils updates the idea with screenprint on plexiglass, framing the accumulated advertising surface as both his subject and his raw material, consistent with his broader excavation-based practice.
FAQ
How does Sever 02 relate to Sever 01?
It is the companion work, using the same method and format; the two form a pair within the Sever series.
What is the edition size?
50, signed and numbered, though each example is unique due to the varying salvaged posters.
What materials are used?
Two-colour screenprint on plexiglass over street-collected advertising posters, on wood, 70 x 100 cm.
Why do examples differ?
The advertising posters collected from the streets vary in colour and composition from one piece to the next.
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.