Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
To Have Or To Be
Summary
Released in 2010 in a signed edition of 75, To Have Or To Be is one of Vhils's most technically ambitious early prints. Measuring 82 x 60 cm, this screen print translates his signature ripped-poster collage aesthetic into printed form, using layered halftone dot patterns to simulate the physical build-up of overlaid, torn advertising papers.
Why It Matters
This print marks a pivotal moment where Vhils solved a core problem: how to reproduce the texture of layered, decayed billboard collage without the physical material itself. By building the effect from printed dots, he demonstrated that his street-derived language could survive translation to paper, making the visual DNA of his wall work portable and collectible.
Collector Perspective
At 82 x 60 cm, this is one of the larger sheets in Vhils's early print output, and the edition of 75 keeps it meaningfully limited. Collectors should confirm the artist's signature and that the dot-layering registration is crisp, since the illusion of depth depends entirely on print quality. Condition of the sheet edges matters given the format.
Historical Context
By 2010 Vhils (Alexandre Farto) had emerged from Lisbon's graffiti scene into international attention, known for carving portraits directly into wall surfaces. This print sits alongside his poster-collage practice, a parallel method where torn advertising layers reveal images beneath, connecting his studio prints to the archaeology-of-the-street idea that defines his work.
FAQ
What makes this print technically notable?
It reproduces the effect of layered, torn poster collage using printed halftone dots rather than physical paper layers, an innovation for translating his street aesthetic to print.
How large is the edition?
It is a signed edition of 75, one of Vhils's more limited early screen prints at the larger 82 x 60 cm format.
Is it based on an existing work?
Yes. The image derives from an original poster collage by the artist, reinterpreted for the print medium.
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.