VHILS

Alexandre Farto, also known as Vhils, is a Portuguese artist born in Lisbon in 1987. He began his career in the early 2000s as a graffiti artist. Vhils is known for exploring urban identity and transformation through his unique "creative destruction" approach, which involves peeling back layers of city surfaces. Using unconventional tools—such as drills, chisels, and even explosives—he exposes the forgotten histories embedded within urban materials, revealing layers of visual and emotional narratives.

His work, showcased worldwide in diverse contexts, draws attention to themes like the erosion of cultural uniqueness and the effects of urban development. Vhils’ signature style, especially his bas-relief wall carvings in public spaces, conveys both the brutality and beauty of urban life, blending poetry with social commentary. Over the years, he has exhibited in major art institutions, including the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology in Lisbon, Le Centquatre-Paris, and the Barbican Centre in London. Inspired by the industrialized suburb of Seixal, where he grew up, Vhils continues to challenge traditional art forms by transforming discarded urban surfaces into powerful statements on identity, globalization, and resilience.

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