Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Universal Personhood Lisbon
Summary
Universal Personhood Lisbon (2018) is a screen print at approximately 24 x 30 inches in an edition of 450. It carries Vhils' portrait language into a Lisbon-tied release, reflecting his origins in the Portuguese capital where much of his excavated wall work first developed.
Why It Matters
Vhils' art argues that in a world of digital screens and pixels, literal and symbolic depth still matter. This Lisbon edition ties that thesis to his home city, offering a graphically alluring yet viscerally tactile portrait that is also existentially probing, consistent with the concerns running through his practice.
Collector Perspective
With an edition of 450, this is one of the more widely available versions in the Universal Personhood group, making it an approachable entry into Vhils' work. Collectors should confirm the signature and numbering, and note the larger run when weighing it against his scarcer hand-finished editions.
Historical Context
Lisbon is central to Vhils' identity; it is where Alexandre Farto's carved portraits took root before spreading internationally. The 2018 Lisbon edition of Universal Personhood connects his broadly circulated portrait imagery back to the Portuguese urban context that shaped it.
FAQ
How does this differ from the Vhils and Fairey collaboration?
This is a larger Lisbon-tied edition of 450, distinct from the 150-edition two-colour print made with Shepard Fairey.
What are the dimensions?
Approximately 24 x 30 inches.
What is the edition size?
450, making it among the more widely available versions of the work.
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.