Invader, an anonymous French artist, is known for creating easily recognizable art pieces depicting pixelated characters reminiscent of old-school computer games. Working since the 1990s, Invader has created more than four thousand colorful tile pieces in urban areas, many of which are in Paris. With time, his art has crossed the borders, with new pieces popping out in, at least, 80 different cities. Invader’s street art has engaged numerous fans in art hunting, an activity you can also try to make your city walks more meaningful.
Invader’s colorful art has recently grown more diverse in terms of themes, motives, and meaning. The artist’s most recent piece is the Space Invader figure created to commemorate the Olympic Games that took place in Paris this year. The work’s blue shades hint at the colors that the organizers used in city decorations. Another Paris-based piece by Invader is located near the Louvre and depicts the Space Invader version of da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.
Although Paris is one of the best cities to admire these art pieces, Invader’s street art is located all around the world, from Switzerland to Mexico. The choice of the setting is often rather unconventional and is not limited to urban areas. For example, one of the pieces was installed on the ski lift in a ski resort in the Swiss Alps.
If you want to expand your art hunting beyond Banksy’s street art, Invader’s works are the right choice. “Collecting” Invader’s art by taking pictures is a fun experience because his works are not always easy to find. They can be located on buildings, bridges, and walls and may not be easily recognizable if surrounded by other street art pieces.
Some of the artworks are very challenging to locate. For example, his works installed in Potosí, Bolivia – a mountainous town located 4,000 meters above sea level – are not an easy catch. Moreover, given that most Invader’s art is illegal, there is always a risk that the piece you want to find can be removed. The risk of demolition makes this type of ephemeral art particularly valuable for street art lovers.
To keep track of Invader’s emerging art pieces, you can follow the artist’s Instagram page. Luckily for street art fans, the anonymous artist posts pictures of new Space Invaders, making it easier to hunt them down as you explore the city.
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