Invader

Invader, the pseudonym of an anonymous French street artist, is renowned for his mosaic works inspired by 8-bit video games, particularly the iconic characters from the 1978 arcade game Space Invaders. Coined the ‘invasion waves’, Invader began his unique form of urban art in the late 1990s, blending the worlds of gaming, street culture and public space to create playful installations.

Born in 1969 in Paris, Invader studied at the École des Beaux-Arts and began creating images from ceramic tiles resembling mosaics or pixilations. Invader is known to install some 20 to 50 of his ‘Space Invaders’ in public places across targeted cities, starting with his hometown, Paris, in 1998 and quickly spreading to other cities in France. Invader meticulously documents and maps every one of his placements, often using a point-based scoring system similar to video games. To date, he has installed over 4,000 pieces in more than 80 cities globally.

What sets Invader apart is the guerrilla-style approach he takes to his work, true to the artist’s philosophy of ‘anytime, anywhere’. Similar to other street artists like Banksy, Invader operates anonymously and installs his mosaics without permission. His art blurs the line between public intervention and artistic expression, often provoking conversation about the ownership of public spaces and the role of art in urban environments.

Since 2004, Invader began working with Rubik’s Cubes, a three-dimensional combination puzzle invented in 1974, to create mosaic compositions and portraits. Through his series, the artist has coined the movement ‘Rubikcubism’, inspired by the 20th-century avant-garde art movement Cubism.

Although the artist maintains his anonymity, his work has garnered international acclaim, and his mosaics have become some of the most recognisable pieces of street art in the world. In 2015, one of his mosaics was even launched into space on the International Space Station, marking a literal ‘space invasion’.

Invader’s playful and nostalgic works continue to captivate art enthusiasts, blending gaming culture with high-concept street art to create a truly unique, interactive experience.