Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Wholetrain
Summary
Wholetrain is a 2025 Vhils giclée print on velvet 270gsm paper at 50 by 70 centimetres. Signed and numbered by the artist, it was released in an edition of 100 plus 10 artist proofs, its title nodding directly to graffiti train-writing culture.
Why It Matters
The title references the graffiti pursuit of painting an entire train carriage, rooting the work in the subculture from which Vhils emerged. It signals his acknowledgment of writing-scene heritage even as his mature practice moved toward carved portraiture.
Collector Perspective
As a mid-size giclée in an edition of 100, this is an approachable Vhils paper work with clear thematic appeal to collectors of graffiti and train-writing history. The velvet paper stock supports rich tonal depth in reproduction.
Historical Context
Made in 2025, Wholetrain connects Vhils to the lineage of European and American train graffiti. The term itself is a canonical piece of writing-scene vocabulary, and the work reads as a tribute to those origins.
FAQ
What does Wholetrain mean?
It is a graffiti term for painting a train carriage in its entirety, referencing writing-scene culture.
What is the medium?
A giclée print on velvet 270gsm paper.
What is the edition size?
One hundred signed and numbered prints plus 10 artist proofs.
What are its dimensions?
50 by 70 centimetres.
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.