Gauntlet Gallery — Invader Print Index
Aladdin Sane (Gold)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
"Aladdin Sane (Gold)" is a 2014 three-colour hand-pulled screenprint on Somerset black 400gsm paper, published by Pictures On Walls at 46.8 x 44.9 cm in an edition of 30. Foiled eyes, metallic ink and embossing render David Bowie's famous lightning-bolt persona in Invader's pixelated mosaic idiom, blending pop tribute with tactile finishing.
Collector notes: Edition of 30. Signed and numbered by the artist; 3 colour hand pulled screenprint on Somerset black 400gsm paper Foiled eyes, metallic and embossed.
Why It Matters
At just 30 impressions with metallic-foil and embossed detailing, this is one of Invader's most technically elaborate and scarce editions. Its Pictures On Walls provenance places it among the celebrated London print releases of the era, and the Bowie subject bridges music iconography with the artist's video-game visual language, giving it crossover collector appeal.
Collector Perspective
Collectors are drawn to the edition of 30, the black Somerset stock, and the labour-intensive foiling and embossing that make each sheet a physical object rather than a flat print. The Pictures On Walls chop is a recognised marker of the period. Because the finishing is delicate, surface condition, foil integrity and clean embossing are decisive to the piece's standing.
Historical Context
Pictures On Walls, the London publisher associated with Banksy and the urban-art print boom, released this homage to Bowie's 1973 Aladdin Sane. Invader reimagines the lightning bolt in tiled pixels, a nod to the arcade era. The gold variant, with its metallic and embossed treatment, sits among the more ambitious productions of his early-2010s print output.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned print
- Release date
- 2014-10-02
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release date; verify against the original publisher record when available.
- Series
- Pop Icons
- Medium and materials
- 3 colour hand pulled screenprint on Somerset black 400gsm paper Foiled eyes, metallic and embossed.
- Edition details
- Edition of 30.
- Signature and marks
- Signed and numbered by the artist; 3 colour hand pulled screenprint on Somerset black 400gsm paper Foiled eyes, metallic and embossed.
Documented History and Meaning
Release context: Legacy catalog record attributes the edition to Pictures On Walls.
Authentication, Presentation and Provenance
- Original presentation
- Original packaging or presentation not independently documented in the sources reviewed.
- Authentication note
- Compare the physical example with the documented signature, numbering, printer/publisher marks, dimensions, support and edition structure. A matching number or seller-issued certificate alone does not authenticate a copy.
- Provenance note
- Edition origin is attributed to Pictures On Walls. Copy-level provenance is separate: retain invoices, labels, prior ownership records and condition photographs for the specific example.
Sources and Verification
Verification status: Mixed: secondary release record with primary series context
- Legacy release record — Art Collectorz · secondary catalog · Accessed 2026-07-11 · Starting record for title, release date, edition, dimensions, medium, and original-release details; requires primary-source confirmation where noted.
- INVADER: Prints on Paper — International Centre of Graphic Arts (MGLC) · museum / catalogue context · Accessed 2026-07-11 · Museum record for the exhibition and 2001–2020 prints-on-paper catalogue raisonné; not an individual-copy certificate.
FAQ
How small is the edition?
Only 30 impressions were produced, signed and numbered by the artist.
What special finishing does it have?
A three-colour hand-pulled screenprint on black Somerset paper with foiled eyes, metallic ink and embossing.
Who published it?
Pictures On Walls, the London print house of that era.
What is the subject?
A pixelated tribute to David Bowie's Aladdin Sane lightning-bolt persona.
