VHILS

Vhils: the artist who sculpts walls

Vhils, born Alexandre Farto, is a world-renowned Portuguese artist known for his unique technique of mural sculpture. At the intersection of street art and contemporary art, he stands out with a revolutionary approach that involves chiseling, scraping, and even blasting walls to reveal striking portraits hidden beneath the surface.

Born in 1987 in Lisbon, Vhils grew up in a rapidly urbanizing environment influenced by graffiti culture. He started with traditional graffiti before developing a more experimental technique. His breakthrough came in 2008 at the Cans Festival in England, where his work caught the attention of Banksy, propelling him onto the global street art scene.

Unlike traditional painting or collage techniques, Vhils carves into walls using unexpected tools such as chisels, jackhammers, explosives, and even acids to bring his portraits to life. His art explores the layers of urban memory, revealing anonymous faces buried beneath time-worn surfaces. His work questions the relationship between urbanization, identity, and collective memory.

Vhils‘ art extends beyond city walls. He also works with wood, metal, and advertising billboards, which he deconstructs to create raw, powerful portraits. Additionally, he has produced monumental installations and video projects exploring themes of globalization and humanity’s impact on the environment.

His creations have been exhibited in major galleries and institutions worldwide, from Lisbon to New York, Hong Kong, and Paris. By transforming destruction into artistic expression, Vhils redefines street art, where every wall becomes a canvas sculpted by time and history.