Space Invader Art Stolen From Downtown Onramp

The French urban artist Space Invader, famous for tile mosaics of characters from the video game he shares his alias with, has had a piece of his artwork vandalized.

In 2010 he “invaded” San Diego to promote a street-art show at the Museum of Contemporary Art (Viva la Revolución: A Dialogue with the Urban Landscape). He reportedly plastered San Diego with 21 pieces of his work.

One of those works was viewable to motorists who took the I-5 south onramp off First Avenue just north of downtown. Last month, someone decided to liberate the art, and all motorists see now is the ugly epoxy remains. The value of the piece is unclear, but signed works by the artist start at about $700.

Space Invader was reportedly arrested in Los Angeles on April 15 for promoting the Art in the Streets show at the L.A. Museum of Contemporary Art in a similar fashion. It is believed he flew back to Paris once he was released.