From Basquiat to Banksy, a Paris Gallery Highlights Three Decades of Street Art
Artsy
Ditching spray paint for tile and grout, Space Invader is known internationally for his pixelated aesthetic, with his figures gracing the facades of buildings in major cities across the globe. In 2000, Invader made his foray into the world of contemporary art—creating and exhibiting his pieces to sell in traditional brick and mortar galleries, often reproducing his street stencils into prints for consumption by the general public. An edition of 50, Warning (Grey) is the classic pixelated alien graphic from the 1980s video game created by Tomohiro Nishikado, from which Invader draws inspiration and his name. —Courtesy of Julien’s Auctions
Signature: Signed in pencil to lower right by Space Invader
About Invader
“Going into a city with tiles and cement and invading it,” says anonymous French street artist Invader of his craft. “This is the most addictive game I have ever played.” Invader began his signature practice in the late 1990s, plastering mosaic Space Invaders, a character from a 1978 Atari game, on the streets of Paris. Joined by Pac-Man ghosts and other popular 8-bit characters, the works soon became a familiar sight in cities around the world, from Los Angeles to Kathmandu. “Each time I put a new piece in the street, it is like a memorable exhibit,” he says. Invader’s signature use of mosaic tiles is a reference to the ubiquitous pixels of digital imaging and information.
French, b. 1969, based in Paris, France
Solo Shows
2017
Group Shows
2017
London,
2016
