When discussing the anonymous street artist Invader, a common question that arises is whether he works as an individual or accompanied by a crew. He has left his mark on the urban landscapes in over 80 cities with over 4000 mosaics due to the Global Space Invasion, which questions whether it is physically possible for a single person to do all this work. Well, let’s find out.

The Solo Artist Theory

Many believe that Invader works alone. Given the importance of his hidden identity and the highly personal nature of his art, it’s logical that you would want fewer people to know who you are, especially as an internationally renowned artist who creates mosaics that are highly doubtful of their legality. Some claim that the artist’s works bear vandalism risks and are illegal in many countries.

Invader himself perpetuated this persona of mysteriousness, often emphasizing the secretive and solitary aspects of his work in interviews and media appearances. His anonymity and installations further bolster the idea of a lone artist, with each piece meticulously crafted and installed reflecting a singular creative vision, instead of a team.

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The Truth

If you look briefly around the streets, you may notice these pixel mosaics lying around here and there. But come to think about it, not every piece of street art with a similar art style is created by Invader. He claims that other people unrelated to him have also installed mosaics on the streets of their cities. Therefore, it may seem Invader is creating more mosaics than he is.

Also, the artist claims very few people know his true identity. This includes his parents, who he claims believe him to be a tiler in the construction industry. The truth is, Invader has a small team with him in his studio. It’s hard to believe, but the Space Invaders Project, which originated from one single artist, is made possible by a team.

It is nice to notice that in a certain way, I have started a movement.

-Invader

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Evidence of Assistance

There is evidence to support the narrative that Invader works with a crew. The sheer scale of his work of over 4,000 mosaics in more than 80 cities raises questions about the feasibility of managing such an extensive project independently. Additionally, some installations are located in hard-to-reach places, implying the need for external support.

In his L.A. Archives, the artist obviously had a cameraman with him, taking video footage besides him.

Similarly, Invader once installed a mosaic, LN_11 in Los Angeles on the Hollywood Sign along with Banksy and Mr Brainwash, which the video footage was later published in the documentary Exit through the Gift Shop. Later, the mosaic was removed.

In the Invasion of Djerba, Invader is accompanied by two assistants, a tour guide, and a filmmaker.

In the painting of the floor of the squared tile in the past Liberation Office that was shown in the Invader Space Station, Invader had two masked assistant that helped him.

While Invader is largely perceived as a lone figure in the street art world, assistance for his art is confirmed. Whether he is a true one-man crew or occasionally collaborates with others, the mystery surrounding his operations only adds to the allure of his art. Exactly how many people are involved in this project? We may never know.

The solo artist theory

the truth

evidence of assistance