Vhils

Biography

Vhils, born Alexandre Farto in 1987 in Seixal, Portugal, is a contemporary artist who first became active in the Lisbon graffiti scene in the early 2000s before developing the distinctive subtractive carving technique for which he is now internationally recognized. Rather than adding paint to a surface, Vhils works by removing material, using chisels, drills, etching acid, bleach, and even controlled explosions to excavate portraits and figures directly out of walls, revealing the layers of plaster, paint, and history embedded within urban architecture. This process of subtraction transforms deteriorating buildings and city walls into large-scale figurative portraits, often of anonymous local residents, giving voice and visibility to ordinary people within the very fabric of the cities where his work appears. Beyond his signature wall carvings, Vhils has expanded his practice into numerous other media, including stencil painting, metal etching, pyrotechnic explosions, video, and sculptural installation, reflecting a restless experimentation with how destruction and removal can function as generative artistic tools. He has also directed music videos, short films, and stage productions, further extending his visual language into performance and moving image. Vhils gained early recognition as a graffiti writer before achieving widespread acclaim for his large-scale public commissions and gallery exhibitions across Europe, the Americas, and Asia, cementing his place among the most significant contemporary street and urban artists working today. His work has been exhibited in prestigious venues and public spaces around the world, consistently exploring themes of urban identity, memory, and the physical and cultural erosion of the modern city. Through his signature carving process, Vhils has redefined what street art can be, transforming acts of destruction into powerful, humanizing portraits embedded permanently within the urban landscape.