Rubik Shot Red Marilyn [NVDR1-4]

About This Work

In "Rubik Shot Red Marilyn [NVDR1-4]", created in 2023, Invader offers a fascinating intersection between contemporary street art and the iconic vibrancy of pop culture. This work, categorized as a print, emerges from Invader's distinctive approach to art, which combines elements of 1970s–1980s 8-bit video game graphics with mosaic techniques. Renowned for his outdoor ceramic tile works, Invader's artistic practice has long been associated with the visual language of early digital games such as Space Invaders and Super Mario Bros., from which his pseudonym itself derives. In this particular print, Invader extends his creative vocabulary to incorporate Rubik's Cubes, a medium notable within his oeuvre for its incorporation in indoor works. The piece reinterprets the enduring image of Marilyn Monroe, a subject frequently revisited in art due to her enduring cultural influence and multifaceted symbolism. Seen through the lens of Rubik's color palette, "Rubik Shot Red Marilyn [NVDR1-4]" transforms the familiar visage of Monroe into a playful mosaic of fragmented color and form, reminiscent of pixelated imagery from vintage arcade screens. This choice of medium and styling bridges the gap between historical artistic icons and modern digital aesthetics, providing a fresh commentary on celebrity through a contemporary framework. Invader's use of Rubik's Cubes embodies his innovative spirit and challenges conventional perceptions of both material and subject. The intricate arrangement of colors within each 'cube' layer calls to mind the calculated precision required in solving the puzzle itself, paralleling the meticulous planning behind Invader's mosaics that adorn various urban landscapes across 79 cities worldwide. These artworks not only capture the essence of fleeting digital pixels but also transcend their momentary origins, offering permanence and tangibility previously unachievable in digital forms. This print encapsulates Invader's ongoing thematic exploration, blending high art with the ubiquity of popular culture and the mundanity of everyday objects, such as the Rubik's Cube. It reflects his unique method of breaching the boundaries between indoor and outdoor art, impelling the viewer to reconsider the spaces where art lives and how it communicates. Despite its differences in medium and setting, "Rubik Shot Red Marilyn [NVDR1-4]" remains true to the core of Invader's artistic mission: to invade and transform the norm with his vibrant mosaics. "Rubik Shot Red Marilyn [NVDR1-4]" is a compelling addition to the Zebra One Gallery collection, exemplifying the gallery's commitment to showcasing art that defies boundaries and challenges the senses.

About the Artist

Invader is a pseudonymous French street artist. He is known for his ceramic tile mosaics modeled on the pixelated art of 1970s–1980s 8-bit video games, many of which depict the titular aliens from the arcade games Space Invaders, Pac-Man and Super Mario Bros. (the inspirations for his pseudonym). As...

Zebra One Gallery

Contemporary Art • Hampstead, London

Established 1976 • 50 years of excellence in contemporary art • Professional authentication and provenance research