Alexandre Farto Aka Vhils (1987)
Alexandre Farto (Vhils) is a Portuguese painter and graffiti artist, born in Lisbon in 1987. He grew up in Seixal, on the south bank of the Tagus, where he began his relationship with graffiti at the age of 10 and started painting on the streets and on trains at 13, first in Portugal and then in several European cities. Influenced by the urban context and the city's outskirts, Farto began his artistic journey in the world of graffiti, but soon went further, exploring different techniques and tools.
Moving from the spray can to the stencil, Vhils developed his practice, incorporating new approaches and materials. He began working with advertising posters, covering them with white paint and carving through the layers of accumulated ads. This technique of "creative destruction", as he himself calls it, became one of his trademarks. He also began carving walls, creating portraits and images in relief using heavy tools such as jackhammers and even explosives.
In 2008, Vhils moved to London to study Fine Arts at Central Saint Martins, from which he graduated in 2008. Building on his experience in the city, he began to stand out on the urban art circuit and was invited to show at major events such as the Cans Festival (organized by Banksy), where one of his works was displayed alongside a piece by the famous graffiti artist. From then on, his art gained international exposure, with invitations to show his work at galleries such as Lazarides Gallery in London and Studio Cromie in Italy.
Vhils is known for his carved portraits of anonymous faces on the walls and facades of abandoned buildings, techniques that explore the contrast between the new and the old while addressing social and cultural issues in a poetic and profound way. The central concept of his work revolves around the idea of "creative destruction", in which he removes historical and cultural layers to reveal something hidden, something from the past. He also films the entire process of creating his works, emphasizing the importance of the artistic process.
Vhils's interventions can be found in cities around the world, such as Lisbon, Porto, London, Berlin, Moscow, New York, Los Angeles, Bogotá, Medellín and Grottaglie. In Portugal, his works can be seen in spaces such as LX Factory and the Fábrica do Braço de Prata, in Lisbon. In 2012, the artist reinterpreted a Portuguese guitar for the collection Tudo isto é... and also created screenprints and art installations.
Vhils has also worked on projects in collaboration with other art forms, such as music, having worked with Orelha Negra on a video for the song M.I.R.I.A.M., which combines his art with the sound of one of Portugal's best-known bands.
In addition to his work in public spaces, Vhils published the book Vhils / Alexandre Farto – Selected Works 2005–2010, which brings together a selection of his works on surfaces such as metal and wood, documenting his development and artistic approach.
With his unique style, which combines graffiti, sculpture and incisive social critique, Vhils continues to push his creative boundaries, becoming one of the most widely recognized urban artists in the world.
