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Invader, the French street artist, gained notoriety for his mosaic tile installations of pixelated video game characters. It’s fascinating to consider how he started placing these invaders in Paris in 2008 and how he has since become a global phenomenon. With some of his pieces now fetching top auction results, it’s clear that Invader’s unconventional art form has found its place in the mainstream.
Some of the most prominent auction houses, including Sotheby’s, Artcurial, Christie’s, and Bonham’s, have auctioned off some of Invader’s most famous pieces to date, and we have compiled Invader’s top ten auction results for you. These auction results reveal the immense value and appeal of Invader’s work, a testament to his deep dedication and unwavering passion for invading the world with his art.
NUMBER 1/10 Auction Results for Invader
Astroboy TK_119 (2014) sold for $1,220,000 at Sotheby’s New York on 15th November 2019
On November 15th, 2019, Astroboy 2014 TK_119 was auctioned as part of the Contemporary Art Day Auction at Sotheby’s New York.
Astroboy TK_119 (2014) is a ceramic tile on Perspex, measuring 40 7/8 by 52 inches (103.8 by 132.1 cm). It was exhibited at the Musée en Herbe in Paris as part of the “Hello My Game Is…” exhibition from January to June 2017. The street piece of Astro Boy, also known as the Mighty Atom, was installed on an overpass in Tokyo’s Shibuya district in 2014. However, on June 17, 2022, the artwork was removed by the “Environmental Improvement Division Clean Town Development Section” without any explanation.
With a sale estimate between $100,000 – $150,000, the piece realised $1,220,000!
Astroboy TK_119 by Invader. Image © Sotheby’s New York.
NUMBER 2/10 Auction Results for Invader
Rubik Space (2005) sold for €492,600 at Artcurial in Paris on 16th December 2020
On December 16th, 2020, Rubik Space, 2005, was auctioned as part of the Urban & Pop Contemporary at Artcurial in Paris.
Rubik Space (2005) is an assembly of Rubik’s Cubes on plywood measuring 95 by 129 by 5.50 cm. Rubik Space was exhibited at Galerie Patricia Dorfmann in Paris from March 24 to May 7, 2005.
With a sale estimate between €400,000-€600,000, the piece realised €492,600, $598,016.
Rubik Space by Invader. Image © Artcurial Paris.
NUMBER 3/10 Auction Results for Invader
Rubik Mona Lisa (2005) sold for €480,200 at Artcurial in Paris on 23rd February 2020
On February 23rd, 2020, Rubik Mona Lisa (2005) was auctioned as part of the Urban & Pop Contemporary at Artcurial in Paris.
The sale coincided with celebrations in Paris marking the 500th anniversary of Leonardo de Vinci’s death, as the Louvre Museum celebrates the artist’s genius. The piece, created in 2005, consists of 330 Rubik’s cubes and is a modern take on Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting. Invader reinterpreted the Mona Lisa and created his Rubik Mona Lisa, which became the first in a new series of artworks called “Rubik’s Master Pieces,” revisiting some of the greatest paintings in art history. Notable pieces in the series include Rubik Jacquet, which represents Alain Jacquet’s Déjeuner sur l’Herbe, and Rubik Origine, which depicts Gustave Courbet’s L’Origine du Monde.
With a sale estimate between €120,000-€150,000, the piece realised €480,200 / £403,000 / $518,664
Rubik Mona Lisa by Invader. Image © Artcurial Paris.
NUMBER 4/10 Auction Results for Invader
Rubik Dalai-lama (2008) sold for €468,250 at Artcurial in Paris on 5th July 2021
On July 5th, 2021, Rubik Dalai-lama (2008) was auctioned as part of the Urban Art Department auction at Artcurial in Paris.
The artwork is an assembly of 225 Rubik’s Cubes on Plexiglas. Invader’s inspiration for this artwork was his interest in Tibetan Buddhism, which he developed during a trip to Nepal, where he met Tibetan refugees and monks. This sale follows the success of two other of Invader’s Rubik’s Cubes masterpieces, Rubik Mona Lisa and Rubik Space, sold at the same auction in 2020, achieving two successive world records.
With a sale estimate between €300,000 to €400,000, the piece realised €468,250 / $555,131
Rubik Dalai-lama, 2008 by Invader. Image © Artcurial Paris.
NUMBER 5/10 Auction Results for Invader
400 Chinese cubes (2008) sold for €375,000 at Christie’s in Paris, on 3rd December 2021
On December 3rd, 2021, 400 Chinese cubes (2008) was auctioned as part of the Post War & Contemporary Art Auction at Christie’s, Paris.
The artwork titled 400 Chinese Cubes is an assembly of 400 Rubik’s Cubes on Plexiglas, an upgrade of 175 cubes from Invader’s Rubik’s Cubes masterpiece Rubik Dalai-lama 2008, making this version a higher resolution. The artwork depicts the Buddhist spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, in the style of Andy Warhol’s portraits of celebrities from the 1960s. The inspiration for this artwork came from Invader’s interest in Tibetan Buddhism and his visit to Nepal, where he met Tibetan refugees. The artwork was purchased by the art critic Alexia Guggémos in 2010 and was part of her collection called the Museum of Smiles. According to Guggémos, the work encapsulates the Buddhist cosmology of the Three Realms, and the Invader’s finest conquest is the smile.
With a sale estimate between €350,000 – €550,000, the piece realised € 375,000
400 Chinese Cubes by Invader. Image © Christie’s Paris.
NUMBER 6/10 Auction Results for Invader
Vienna (2008) sold for €356,200 at ArtCurial in Paris on 5th May 2019
On May 5th, 2019, Vienna (2008) was auctioned for the Sale Urban & Pop Contemporary Auction at Artcurial, Paris.
A mesmerising masterpiece, Hypnotic Vienna was meticulously crafted in 2008 using 368 ceramic tiles. This artwork consists of ceramic tiles arranged on two panels, measuring 165 cm in height and 236 cm in width.
Hypnotic Vienna was first exhibited at the ‘Invaded Bridge’ intervention at the Quartier21 + MuseumsQuartier in Vienna, Austria. The Street Art Passage, located in the museum district of Vienna, led visitors to the Museumsquartier. The tunnel featured an awe-inspiring black space invader with a hypnotic blue and black background that drew visitors in and left them mesmerised. The artwork was exhibited at Vienna’s Street Art Passage – Betonblumen from September 12, 2008, to January 29, 2009.
With a sale estimate between €250 000 – 350 000, the piece realised €356,200 / $397,341
Vienna by Invader. Image © Artcurial Paris.
NUMBER 7/10 Auction Results for Invader
ALIAS HK-59 (2014) sold for HKD 2,680,000 at Christie’s Hong Kong, on 15th March 2015
On March 15, 2015, ALIAS HK-59 (2014) was auctioned for the Asia First Open Auction at Christie’s, Hong Kong.
The Invasion of Hong Kong is part of his global project, the Invasion of the World, and he has visited the city four times, leaving behind over 70 pieces. His signature piece executed in Hong Kong, ALIAS HK-59, is the largest work from the artist yet to appear in the auction, based on the colossal red and white piece opposite the Apple Store in Central Hong Kong that was removed. The artist described his local alteration for Hong Kong, with the hard disk appearance of ALIAS HK-59 highlighting the mega-network and technology that constructs our information-driven society.
With a sale estimate between HKD 1,200,000 – HKD 1,800,000 , the piece realised HKD 2,680,000
ALIAS HK-59 by Invader. Image @ Christie’s Hong Kong.
NUMBER 8/10 Auction Results for Invader
Alias PA_1030 (2013) sold for €242,500 at Artcurial in Paris on 25th October 2016
On October 25, 2016, Alias PA_1030 (2013) was auctioned as part of the Made in Urban auction at Artcurial in Paris.
This artwork consists of ceramic tiles mounted on plexiglass. The dimensions of the work are 155.80 cm in height and 194.80 cm in width. The artwork’s provenance is Galerie Le Feuvre in Paris. The artwork’s alias, “PA_1030 – 2013”, corresponds to an invasion in Paris on May 8, 2012, specifically on Rue des Bourdonnais / Rue Saint-Honoré.
With a sale estimate between €250,000 to €350,000, the piece realised €242,500 / $264,083
Alias PA_1030 by Invader. Image @ Artcurial Paris.
NUMBER 9/10 Auction Results for Invader
Mario (2004) sold for $252,000 at Sotheby’s New York on 17th November 2020
On November 17, 2020, Invader’s Mario (2004) was auctioned as part of the Contemporary Art Day Auction at Sotheby’s New York.
Mario is a ceramic tile on board that measures 23 1/2 by 18 3/4 inches. The artwork came with a certificate of authenticity from Galerie Magda Danysz in Paris. The artwork depicts Mario, a pixelated representation of one of the most successful video game characters ever. This artwork was available for auction on the 35th anniversary of the game’s historic conception.
With a sale estimate between $150,000 – $200,000, the piece realised $252,000
Mario by Invader. Image @ Sotheby’s New York.
NUMBER 10/10 Auction Results for Invader
Rubik Travis Bickle Mohican (2007) sold for £183,000 at Bonham’s in London on 30th June 2022
On June 30, 2022, Invader’s Rubik Travis Bickle Mohican (2007) was auctioned as part of the Post-War & Contemporary Art at Bonham’s London.
Rubik Travis Bickle Mohican is a work of art that measures 83.8 by 122.9 by 5.5 cm and consists of Rubik’s cubes on a Perspex panel. The artwork was exhibited at Invader’s first London exhibition, London Invasion / Bad Men Part II, at Lazarides Gallery in 2007. Rubik Travis Bickle Mohican combines Invader’s pixelated, pointillist style with one of the most iconic antiheroes from 1970’s American cinema – Travis Bickle from Martin Scorsese’s 1976 drama Taxi Driver.
The piece realised £183,000
Rubik Travis Bickle Mohican by Invader. Image @ Bonham’s London.
Invader’s works have been highly sought after in the art market, with his top auction result exceeding a million dollars. If you are interested in owning an Invader piece, you can explore our online store, where we sell a variety of his works. Alternatively, if you have a specific artwork in mind, you can contact us, and we will leverage our extensive network of collectors to help you find what you’re looking for.
The sale price includes the hammer price and buyer’s premium, as well as any other additional fees (e.g., Artist’s Resale Rights).
