Over the past few years, Portuguese artist Vhils has been exploring tiles as both material and medium—drawing inspiration from their deep historical roots in Portugal and their universal cultural resonance. This journey has not only redefined the boundaries of his own practice, but also reimagined what tiles can represent in the contemporary art landscape.
This year, Vhils has taken this vision even further by partnering with CLAY, a new platform that fuses modern artistic expression with traditional tile craftsmanship. Together, they aim to elevate the role of tiles in storytelling, connection, and urban identity.
A major highlight of this ongoing exploration is “Strates Urbaines”, a monumental tile mural recently unveiled at the new Orly station as part of the Grand Paris Express project. Spanning 35 meters wide and 7 meters tall, the work features over 11,000 hand-crafted Portuguese tiles, combining Parisian architectural landmarks with portraits of its people. The result is a vibrant visual statement that reflects the energy and diversity of the French capital.
Commissioned by Société des Grands Projets and created by Vhils Studio in 2024, this project solidifies tiles not only as artistic heritage—but as a dynamic language of the modern city.
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December 16, 2024
