Once you start noticing them, you suddenly seem to see them everywhere in Paris: small, colorful mosaics attached to walls, building corners, bridges and façades. Many have the pixelated look of an old video game. I had spotted quite a few of them on my walks through Paris before I realized just how big the project behind them actually is.
They are the work of the French street artist Invader, and Paris is where his worldwide Space Invaders project began. Today, hunting for these mosaics is a surprisingly fun way to explore the city. You can simply look for them as you walk, or turn it into a proper street art scavenger hunt with the free FlashInvaders app.
© Louis Vendel
Who is Invader?
Invader is an anonymous French artist who has been placing his pixel-style mosaics in public spaces since 1998. He works under the name Invader and appears in public wearing a mask. His best-known works were inspired by the classic 1978 arcade game Space Invaders, which also explains his artist name.
Instead of creating pixels on a screen, Invader builds them with small ceramic tiles. The result is perfect for the streets: colorful, recognizable and surprisingly durable. His idea was also to take art outside traditional museums and galleries and make the city itself part of the artwork.
The project began in Paris and later spread to cities around the world. Each official work is archived and has its own code. Paris works start with PA, followed by a number. You may come across PA_370, PA_857 or PA_1200, for example.
How many Space Invaders are there in Paris?
Paris has by far the largest concentration of Invader mosaics. At the time of updating this guide in September 2026, the artist’s official archive lists 1,598 Invaders in Paris.
That does not mean all 1,598 can still be seen. Street art lives a rather unpredictable life. Buildings are renovated, walls are repainted, mosaics are damaged and some works disappear completely. At the same time, Invader is still active, so new works continue to appear.
This is one reason I would not plan an entire Paris trip around a fixed list of exact addresses. It is much more fun to know a few good areas and keep your eyes open while exploring the city.
Why looking for Invader in Paris is so much fun
What I like about these mosaics is that they are easy to miss. Some are tiny and tucked away high above a storefront or beside a street sign. Others are much larger and immediately catch your eye. Once you know what you are looking for, you start checking corners and façades almost automatically.
It also gives you a reason to look at Paris differently. Instead of walking straight from one major sight to the next, you start noticing the buildings, side streets and details in between. Finding another Invader becomes a little bonus along the way.
A great activity to do in Paris with kids and teens
Looking for Space Invaders is also a great activity if you are visiting Paris with kids or teenagers. Instead of simply walking from one sight to the next, they suddenly have something to look for along the way. With the FlashInvaders app, it becomes a real-life scavenger hunt where every mosaic you find earns points. It works especially well with older kids and teens who might not be excited about another museum or church, but are quite happy to wander through Paris looking for street art. And the best part is that you can easily combine it with whatever you were already planning to see that day.
How does the FlashInvaders app work?
If you want to make a game out of it, download FlashInvaders, the official app created by Invader. It is available for iOS and Android and is free to use.
- Find an Invader mosaic on the street.
- Open FlashInvaders and photograph the actual mosaic through the app.
- The app checks whether it recognizes the work.
- If your flash is validated, the Invader is added to your collection and you receive points.
Different works are worth different numbers of points. It can become surprisingly addictive once you have collected your first few.
A practical tip: if the app does not recognize a mosaic, try taking another photo without strong reflections, shadows or plants covering part of the artwork. Your GPS location also needs to be reasonably accurate. And no, taking a picture of somebody else’s photo will not work. You have to be standing in front of the real thing.
FlashInvaders also has an offline mode. That can be useful for international visitors who do not have mobile data in France. You can save your flash and have it validated later.
Not every pixel mosaic in Paris is a real Invader
This is useful to know before you start collecting them. Invader’s style has inspired other artists, and you will also see copies and lookalikes around Paris. A pixelated mosaic on a wall is therefore not automatically an official Invader.
The FlashInvaders app is the easiest way to check. If the app recognizes your photo, you have found an official work and it will be added to your collection.
You also will not usually find the official number printed on the artwork itself. A code such as PA_1200 belongs to the artist’s archive and appears in the app and catalogs, not as a little identification label beside the mosaic.
Where to find Space Invaders in Paris
You can come across Invader throughout Paris, so there is no single street where you need to go. Still, some parts of the city are particularly good places to start looking.
- Beaubourg and Place Igor Stravinsky: one of the most obvious places to start because of the enormous PA_1432 beside the Stravinsky Fountain. There are more works to discover in the surrounding streets.
- Le Marais: the narrow streets of the 3rd and 4th arrondissements are great for exploring on foot, with plenty of street art along the way. Look around Rue du Renard and the streets toward République as well.
- Place de la République and Canal Saint-Martin: another good area if you enjoy combining an Invader hunt with a longer walk through Paris.
- Montmartre: keep looking up around Place du Tertre and the surrounding streets. The Invader shown in one of my photos above fits the neighborhood perfectly, with its reference to the artists of Place du Tertre.
- The Left Bank: you can find works around the Latin Quarter, near Shakespeare and Company and in other streets south of the Seine.
- The Eiffel Tower: there is even an official Invader at the Eiffel Tower itself. PA_1431 is located at the summit, so you will need a ticket that includes access to the top if you want to find this one.
- La Villette: this has become another interesting area for dedicated Invader hunters, with new works added in 2026.
If you prefer using a map, this worldwide Space Invader map can help you see where works have been reported. Another useful resource is Invaders Finder for Paris. Keep in mind that street art can disappear, so a mosaic shown on a map is never a guarantee that it is still there.
The giant Invader at Place Igor Stravinsky
If you want to see an Invader that is almost impossible to overlook, go to Place Igor Stravinsky, beside Centre Pompidou. PA_1432 is enormous compared with the little mosaics you normally find on Parisian street corners.
The wall is interesting for another reason too. You can also see work by French street artist Jef Aérosol and American artist Shepard Fairey, better known as Obey. Together with the colorful Stravinsky Fountain, it makes this one of the more interesting stops in central Paris if you like urban and contemporary art.
Good to know: the main Centre Pompidou building is currently closed for a major renovation and is scheduled to reopen in 2030. The surrounding Beaubourg neighborhood and Place Igor Stravinsky remain worth visiting.
Invader street art outside Paris
Although Paris is where the project started and still has the largest collection, Invader has taken his mosaics far beyond France. They can now be found in cities around the world, including New York, Los Angeles, London, Tokyo and many others.
So if you start using FlashInvaders in Paris, do not delete the app when you fly home. There is a good chance you will eventually come across another mosaic somewhere completely different.
Frequently asked questions about Space Invaders in Paris
How many Space Invaders are there in Paris?
As of September 2026, Invader’s official archive lists 1,598 works installed in Paris. Some have since been damaged, removed or lost, so the number you can actually see on the streets is lower.
Is FlashInvaders free?
Yes. FlashInvaders is the official free app from Invader and is available for both iOS and Android.
Where is the best place to find Invader street art in Paris?
You can find Invaders throughout the city, but central Paris is an easy place to start. Beaubourg, Le Marais, République, Montmartre and the Left Bank are all good areas to keep your eyes open. Place Igor Stravinsky is particularly easy because PA_1432 is so large.
Are all pixel mosaics in Paris made by Invader?
No. Other artists have been inspired by Invader and there are also copies. The FlashInvaders app is the simplest way to check whether the mosaic you have found is an official Invader.
Can you find Space Invaders outside Paris?
Yes. Invader has placed mosaics in cities around the world. Paris is special because this is where the project began and where you will find the largest concentration of his work.
Paris becomes a little more interesting when you start looking up
You do not really need to plan a special Invader tour to enjoy this. Download the app if you like the idea of collecting them, and then simply keep your eyes open while walking around Paris.
That is what I enjoy most about it. You may be heading toward a museum, looking for a café or walking back to your hotel when you suddenly spot another little mosaic above you. And once you have found a few, it becomes surprisingly difficult to stop looking.