Vhils is the alias of Portuguese artist Alexandre Farto, famed for his monumental murals of everyday heroes. In cities around the world, you can find his gorgeously textured portraits chiselled into walls and buildings at a colossal scale. The magic of the murals lies in their juxtaposition – while Vhils creates them through abrasive, almost violent processes like drilling, chiselling and sometimes even blowing things up, the final images are detailed, tender and poetic. The portraits spotlight a different, more human side of history – a history of people, places and their everyday lives rather than grand gestures, famous names and power. Over the past decade, Vhils has also translated his public art into art for galleries and museums. Using a vast range of materials from the urban environment, like concrete, brick and metal, he captures the nonstop aliveness of the city.
