MUNICH.- The Museum of Urban and Contemporary Art is presenting the first-ever solo exhibition in Germany of renowned contemporary artist Alexandre Farto aka Vhils.
This landmark exhibition showcases a comprehensive selection of Vhils‘ artworks from the past two decades. Visitors will experience the evolution of Portuguese artist’s distinctive artistic style through a diverse range of materials, techniques, and conceptual explorations.
Vhils, internationally acclaimed for his unique approach to contemporary urban-inspired art, has revolutionized the way we perceive and interact with our surroundings. From intricate wall carvings such as his “Scratching the Surfaces” project series and explosive relief sculptures to large-scale installations and mixed-media compositions, his work transcends traditional artistic boundaries. The exhibition offers a rare opportunity to explore his artistic journey in unprecedented depth, and witness firsthand how his work reflects themes of identity, memory, and urban transformation, through the lens of both individual and collective experiences.
At the core of Vhils’ practice is a profound investigation into the layered nature of cities and the people who inhabit them. His technique—often subtractive, chipping away at surfaces to reveal hid- den histories—mirrors the way time, globalization, and gentrification shape urban environments. By carving into walls, billboards, and industrial materials, Vhils exposes the overlooked textures of contemporary life, giving voice to the anonymous figures who define the soul of a city. His work is an act of both destruction and creation, revealing that every wall carries a story and that erasure can be as powerful as construction.
What makes this exhibition truly special is the immersive experience it offers. Through a combination of textures, layers, and materials—including concrete, wood, metal, paper and video installation—Vhils crafts powerful narratives that connect deeply with visitors. In addition to this, for the first time ever, the artist is exhibiting significant artworks and previously unseen archival material from his personal collection, making this exhibition a must-see for both longtime admirers and newcomers to his work alike.
For those passionate about contemporary and urban art, this exhibition is an unmissable event that brings together over 20 years of work from an artist who has left a lasting impact on cities and communities across the globe. It provides a unique insight into the mind of Vhils, who has continually pushed the boundaries of creativity and challenged conventional perspectives on art, society, and the unique challenges we face today. Visitors will leave with a deeper appreciation for the relationship between art, the human experience, and the environments we inhabit, as well as the transformative power of Vhils’ vision.
The exhibition runs from March 12 till November 30, 2025.
Portuguese artist Alexandre Farto aka Vhils (b. 1987) has developed a unique visual language based on the removal of the surface layers of walls and other media with non-conventional tools and techniques. He began interacting with the urban environment through the practice of graffiti in the early 2000s. Peeling back the layers of our material culture like a modern-day urban archaeologist, Vhils reflects on the impact of urbanity, development and global homogenisation on landscapes and people‘s identities. Destroying to create, he delivers powerful and poetic visual statements from materials the city rejects, humanising depressed areas with his poignant large-scale portraits.
Since 2005 he has been presenting his work around the world in exhibitions, events and other contexts – from working with communities in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, to collaborations with well-reputed institutions such as MAAT – Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (Lisbon); MIMA Museum (Brussels); Contemporary Arts Center (Cincinnati); Le Centquatre-Paris (Paris); CAFA Art Museum (Beijing); Hong Kong Contemporary Art Foundation (Hong Kong); Palais de Tokyo (Paris); and the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (San Diego), among others. An avid experimentalist, besides his groundbreaking bas-relief carving technique, Vhils has been developing his personal aesthetics in a plurality of media: from stencil painting to metal etching, from pyrotechnic explosions and video to sculptural installations. He has also directed several music videos, short films, and two stage productions.
