Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Stratum
Summary
Stratum (2016) is a hand-finished screen print in an edition of 150 on Fedrigoni cotton, built through Vhils' signature subtractive vocabulary. Quink, bleach, and acid work against screen-printed acrylic ink so that no two impressions read identically, translating his wall-carving practice into a controlled paper edition.
Why It Matters
The title Stratum speaks directly to Vhils' core idea: cities as accumulated layers of surface and memory. Rather than adding an image, the corrosive process strips ink back, mirroring how he excavates faces from plaster and billboard walls. It is a compact statement of his signing philosophy on paper.
Collector Perspective
Because bleach and acid react unpredictably, each of the 150 impressions is genuinely unique despite the shared matrix, giving buyers a one-of-a-kind object within an editioned framework. Signed, numbered, and hand-finished by the artist, it offers an accessible entry into Vhils' studio process on archival cotton stock.
Historical Context
By 2016 Vhils (Alexandre Farto) had moved from Lisbon walls to international gallery editions, refining chemical and screen techniques to carry his destructive-creative method onto paper. Stratum sits within this maturing print program, where corrosion and layering became repeatable studio tools rather than site-specific gestures.
FAQ
Why is each print described as unique?
The bleach and acid react differently with the acrylic ink on every sheet, so each of the 150 impressions varies even though they share the same screen matrix.
What paper is it printed on?
Fedrigoni cotton stock, an archival cotton paper chosen to hold the chemical hand-finishing.
Is it signed and numbered?
Yes. Each print is signed, numbered, and hand-finished by the artist, part of an edition of 150.
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.