Portrait #18: Conrad, the forgotten hero resurrected by megamatt

June 26, 2025

Portrait #18 : Conrad, le héros oublié ressuscité par megamatt - Tilipix

Hello megamatt, can you tell us more about the person behind this pseudonym? And why did you choose it?

Hello, my name is megamatt. My username comes from a combination of the game Megaman and my first name. I'm 45 years old.

The first character I used was the little helmeted miners called “Mettaur” in the Megaman game, so the name was also related to that.

What was your first contact with urban art and pixel art? What made you want to get involved in it?

I would say around the beginning of the 90s. There was a vacant lot behind my house, in a dead end near the Fine Arts school in the 15th arrondissement, on rue Olivier de Serres.

I remember that, as a child, I often passed by the end of this dead-end street. I saw all those colours, including a Spiderman Santa Claus that intrigued me.

The field was elevated, like 3 meters, inaccessible with a fence… I didn't understand how the guys were getting in. It obsessed me for a while, then I figured out how to get in: that was the beginning of the adventure. I was like 11 or 12 years old…

I also remember André, who traumatized me quite a bit because he went all around a house with his character next to my school.

Legend had it that it was his grandmother's house, or his own, I can't remember.

I took a picture of it, but unfortunately I lost it. If anyone has any information or a photo…

He also did great tags and big, angry block letters.

And then there was the PC too, which was magical for going to high school… and the arrival of O'clock a little later. Lots of things actually!

If you had to define your style in 3 words?

Pixel – Movement – Minimalist

Can you tell us more about your creative process?

I look at a lot of images of movement or poses that I select.

It can come from a film, a sculpture, a screenshot, a photo, the internet , etc.

Next, I make a sketch on paper or tablet and then I create the mosaic.

Sometimes it's the opposite: I find a spot that immediately inspires an idea.

I try not to add too many colors to the character's palette, except in exceptional cases.

I'm also trying to create animations, making all the sprites myself. Then comes the challenge of bringing all my pixel art to life. in the street on a spot 😁

But I do like missions 😜

What are your main sources of inspiration?

Life, cities, people's postures... and the internet, of course.

What do you consider the ideal spot to display your artwork?

The next one!!

Can you tell us about your first mosaic? (from the idea to its installation)

I started doing mosaics around 2008. Fed up with my not-so-great graffiti and the problems that come with it.

I saw Invader having fun all alone in Paris, so I wanted to play with him.

At first it was the Mettaur, but after seeing the 1500 exhibition in the 11th arrondissement, I saw that he had already done this character.

So I thought about another crazy idea, less like his, and Conrad naturally came back to me.

This game gave me a lot of trouble on Amiga, and the character was perfect for playing with the street.

What cities and countries have you invaded?

“Invaded” is too strong a word, I would rather say “where I left traces”!

A short, random list of things I really liked to stick on, outside of Paris:

Rio (incredible), Budapest (killer), Berlin (kreukreu of the bomb), Wroclaw and Dzierzonow (home), Mindelo (saudades), Lisbon (super energy), Italy (mi amor), Metajna (the calmest), Montpellier (thank you for the welcome), Nancy (my little Polska), Koh-Lanta (for Denis B 😆).

In total, they are currently spread across 13 countries.

Do you have any idea how many mosaics you've laid?

According to people who are counting all my mosaics (big up RV), I have laid 348 — a number already exceeded.

For Conrad, I must be at a little over 170.

Just a quick note: Conrad's t-shirt is white because it's the original Amiga version. Later, the game was released on consoles and his t-shirt became red.

What is your favorite mosaic?

The next one 😁

Do you have a bad experience to tell us about?

In the street, someone once stole a Conrad that I found on eBay for €400, or tore off a mosaic before I could take the picture.

But hey, that's the street… nothing lasts forever.

In street art , there are people who try to make money off my back (like Vincent Delerm at Le Bon Marché), or those who place a special order that you complete… and never come to collect it.