The leading street artist of the 21st century
An Anonymous Street Artist.
b. 1969
Invader
In the late 1990s, an anonymous French artist known as Invader began solidifying his reputation by affixing ceramic mosaic Space Invaders—iconic characters from the classic 1978 video game—across the streets of Paris. Over time, he expanded his repertoire to include Pac-Man ghosts and other beloved 8-bit figures, and his mosaic installations now grace cities worldwide, from Los Angeles to Kathmandu. In addition to these covert street artworks, Invader has ventured into creating mosaics on Perspex panels, plywood, and book covers. His artistic output also encompasses paintings, drawings, and screen prints, all rendered in his distinctive pixelated style. These pieces frequently command six-figure sums in the secondary market. In a notable milestone, in 2019, astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti transported one of Invader’s artworks to the International Space Station, orbiting approximately 248 miles above Earth. Invader's international acclaim is underscored by exhibitions held in major cities such as Los Angeles, Paris, Brussels, and Hong Kong, reflecting his enduring influence and global reach in contemporary art circles.
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About the artist
Self-described as the 'Unidentified Free Artist,' the enigmatic French street artist known as Invader has garnered international acclaim for his distinctive pixelated tile mosaics. Maintaining anonymity behind a mask, Invader's artworks, inspired by the 1978 arcade game Space Invaders, have been clandestinely installed in cities worldwide.
Born in Paris, France in 1969, Invader adopted his pseudonym from the iconic video game that serves as the cornerstone of his artistic vision. His true identity remains shrouded in mystery, with no public sightings of his face ever recorded. Invader himself asserts, "as such, I can visit my own exhibitions without any visitors knowing who I really am even if I stand a few steps away from them."
A graduate of the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, Invader launched his renowned Space Invaders project in the 1990s, staging global 'invasions' by installing his mosaic artworks in cities across the world. His covert installations, characterized by their pixelated aesthetic and cultural resonance, have solidified his status as a pioneering figure in contemporary street art.
Early Works
Invader's debut mosaic installation near Place de la Bastille in Paris emerged in 1996, laying the foundation for his iconic Space Invaders project, which officially launched in 1998. The inaugural 'invasion' featured a pixelated character from the 1978 Atari game Space Invaders, crafted meticulously from small ceramic square tiles and embedded into a Parisian street wall. Today, this pioneering artwork is obscured beneath a layer of paint, rendering it untraceable.
Describing the Space Invaders as "the perfect icons of our time," symbolizing the pervasive influence of digital technologies in contemporary society, Invader swiftly expanded his 'invasion waves' worldwide. His mosaic artworks have 'occupied' 31 cities across France and reached 65 cities spanning over 30 countries. Invader's global installations continue to captivate audiences, blending nostalgic gaming aesthetics with a bold commentary on modern digital culture.
Anonymity
Who is Invader the artist?
Invader has meticulously maintained anonymity throughout his career, with scant details available about his personal life and background. Renowned for his clandestine street art installations, he has faced numerous arrests for his public artworks and has even been barred from entering certain countries where he has conducted his 'invasions.' Notably, in 2011, he was apprehended at Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, just prior to the MOCA gallery's Art in the Streets exhibition, where his works were prominently featured.
The artist gained further attention when he appeared in the acclaimed Banksy documentary 'Exit Through The Gift Shop,' asserting that he is the cousin of the film's central figure, Thierry Guetta, also known as Mr. Brainwash. Invader's involvement in the documentary added another layer of intrigue to his enigmatic persona, showcasing his role in the global street art movement while maintaining the mystery surrounding his true identity.
Influence
Invader's street art and mosaics
A key influence on Invader’s practice is the concept of the ‘ready-made’ that stems from the Dadaist artist Marcel Duchamp. Invader brings the notion of the ‘ready-made’ into contemporary public spaces by lifting the Space Invader motif directly from the developer Taito’s video game and turning it into street art.
Invader has explained that Taito have contacted him throughout his career without facing issues around the use of their image, claiming that ‘I work with them, not against them.’
Prints and Multiples
Invader artworks for sale
Since the early 2000s, Invader has ventured into the realm of collectibles, establishing a store reminiscent of Keith Haring's Pop Shop. Here, he offers items such as Invasion Kits and limited-edition screenprints that coincide with his gallery exhibitions. This initiative allows collectors to engage directly with Invader's distinctive urban artworks in tangible forms.
Invader's accessible price points make him particularly appealing to first-time art investors, especially within the street art and urban art genres. His collectibles offer an entry point into the art market, combining artistic merit with the allure of limited editions, making Invader a compelling choice for those looking to start an art collection.
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