Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Subsume #1 (First Edition)
Summary
Subsume #1 (First Edition), 2019, is a silkscreen using ink and bleach at 70 x 50 cm, in an edition of 80 plus 8 artist's proofs. The pairing of screen ink with bleach lets Vhils build and then partially strip the image, producing the eroded, layered surface that defines his portrait work on paper.
Why It Matters
As the first of a numbered pair, Subsume #1 anchors a diptych-style release. The bleach process is not decorative but conceptual, mirroring how Vhils reveals faces by removing material from walls. It captures his signature tension between construction and destruction in a modestly sized edition.
Collector Perspective
An edition of 80 plus 8 AP places Subsume #1 among Vhils' scarcer paper works. Collectors often pursue it alongside Subsume #2 to hold the complete pair. The bleach technique means condition and tonal consistency vary, so inspecting the specific impression matters before acquisition.
Historical Context
By 2019 Vhils had established a studio practice that translated his corrosive wall techniques onto paper. The Subsume works belong to this body of bleach-based silkscreens, extending his excavated-portrait language into a limited two-part edition released under the Vhils name.
FAQ
Is Subsume #1 part of a set?
It is the first of a numbered pair; Subsume #2 was released as a companion in the same 2019 edition format.
What is the edition size?
80 impressions plus 8 artist's proofs.
What techniques are used?
Silkscreen combined with ink and bleach, allowing the image to be built and partially stripped away.
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.