Celebrating a shared vision rooted in cultural dialogue and creative experimentation, RVCA x VHILS brings together the international contemporary artist Alexandre Farto aka Vhils and the iconic lifestyle brand. Launched in June at RVCA’s flagship store in Paris, this collaboration marks the first step in a broader partnership that merges the worlds of visual art and fashion in a truly distinctive way.
For this inaugural collaboration, Vhils has created a striking 2.5 x 2.5 metre original piece using his signature bleaching technique—an expressive interpretation of RVCA’s identity and spirit. This unique work laid the foundation for a capsule collection of limited-edition t-shirts and hoodies. Each garment was individually bleached, making every piece one-of-a-kind.
As one of the first artists to be featured in a dedicated art installation space at RVCA Paris, Vhils will present this original artwork alongside a curated panel that showcases his tools, techniques, and creative process. The installation also includes electronic devices displaying highlights from some of his most iconic projects across the globe. This new initiative reinforces RVCA’s commitment to fostering meaningful connections between contemporary art and lifestyle culture.
This collaboration also signals the beginning of a global partnership between Vhils and RVCA, with a more extensive release already planned for 2026.
RVCA x VHILS will launch as part of the RVCA Artist Network Program (ANP). The ANP aims to showcase the talent of both renowned and emerging artists who inspire our generation and push the boundaries of creativity; providing something of substance and culture. RVCA and the ANP were developed to shake the very foundations of the business, by giving back to artists and providing a voice for their creative growth.
This project is a collaboration between RVCA, Vhils, and Cultural Affairs – a Portuguese art and culture group that encompasses Vhilstudio, Underdogs, Iminente, Eterno, and Clay.
About RVCA
Transcending the boundaries of traditional sports apparel, RVCA is a design-driven lifestyle brand free from passing trends. Brought together by a group of like-minded individuals from various subcultures, RVCA balances the tensions between sport and art, creating unexpected and extraordinary designs and moments. With a physical and digital presence across the globe, RVCA’s humble beginnings in 2001 have evolved into a powerhouse spanning apparel, accessories, swimwear, and more.
For more information, please visit rvca.com. Discover RVCA on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and X.
About Alexandre Farto aka Vhils
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.
Selected Projects
MUCA Munich, Germany (2024)
Currently presenting a solo exhibition at the Museum of Urban and Contemporary Art (MUCA), one of Europe’s leading museums for urban art. Vhils’ work is featured in the same museum that has previously hosted artists such as Damien Hirst.
Bissau Contemporary Art Biennale, Guinea-Bissau (2024)
Participated in the inaugural edition of the biennale, which brought together artists from across Lusophone Africa. Vhils’ work explored resilience and the marks of colonial history through public art.
Sea Portrait / Fractional: Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen (2024) and José Saramago, Portugal (2021)
Two large-scale shoreline installations honouring Portuguese writers Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen and José Saramago, created using carved stone and public art interventions that reflect on memory, identity, and the passage of time through the symbolic power of the sea.
Strates Urbaines, at Orly Airport Station, Paris (2024)
Commissioned for the new Orly metro station, this monumental 35-metre mural made with over 11,000 hand-crafted Portuguese tiles represents the diversity of Parisian identity.
Art Reef, Albufeira, Portugal (2023)
This underwater exhibition invites viewers to reflect on art, climate and preservation. Works by Vhils were submerged off the coast of Albufeira as part of an artificial reef project.
UNESCO Headquarters, Paris (2023)
Created a site-specific carved mural at the entrance of UNESCO’s Paris headquarters as part of the “Scratching the Surface” series. The piece reflects on shared global heritage and collective memory.
