Eric Bass for Modera SoBro
Project Summary
Colors Used
Modera SoBro, a multifamily residential development in Nashville managed by Mill Creek Residential, designated two amenity spaces for large-scale mural installations: an interior mailroom and an exterior dog park. Mill Creek had no internal art director or procurement process in place. WXLLSPACE sourced artist Eric Bass, managed concept development and stakeholder approvals, coordinated compliance and contract requirements, and delivered 1,576 SQFT of finished murals across both locations. The project was captured for inclusion in Mill Creek Residential's ESG Report to investors.
The Space
Challenge
Mill Creek Residential identified two high-visibility spaces within Modera SoBro that warranted commissioned artwork. The mailroom serves as a daily touchpoint for every resident. The dog park is a primary exterior amenity. Both required artwork that performed against a specific interior design standard: contemporary, edgy but elegant.
The development team had no internal resource to manage the procurement process. Key gaps at project start included:
- No artist sourced or under consideration for either space.
- No project manager assigned to the commission.
- An existing interior art direction package that any concept had to align with precisely.
- ESG reporting timelines creating external pressure on project delivery and documentation.
- Contract and insurance requirements from Mill Creek Residential's risk department requiring management before any work could begin.
WXLLSPACE closed each of those gaps, managing the project from initial artist outreach through final photo delivery.
The Artist
Eric Bass
Eric “Mobe” Bass is a Nashville-based artist whose work blends graffiti influence with contemporary and surreal visual language, rooted in personal experience and narrative storytelling. His compositions often combine realism with playful, expressive elements, drawing inspiration from nature, human connection, and lived experience. His work is defined by graphic contrast, dynamic lighting, and emotional undertones, creating pieces that feel both accessible and layered, balancing street art energy with refined execution.
View Landing PageThe Design
This piece is about contrast. I wanted to bring together structure and spontaneity, using bold geometric framing against organic, almost surreal forms to create tension and movement across the surface. The composition plays with depth and perspective, pulling the viewer into something that feels both constructed and fluid at the same time. Color plays a central role here. The palette is intentionally vibrant, using high contrast and saturation to create energy while still maintaining balance across the space. The forms themselves sit somewhere between abstraction and reality, allowing interpretation while still grounding the piece in something familiar. At its core, this work is about creating a moment. It’s meant to interrupt the everyday environment, introduce color and life into the space, and give people something that feels both uplifting and slightly unexpected as they move through it.
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Constraints
Schedule
The mailroom installation was targeted for completion in late February 2025. Finished project photos were confirmed and shared in April 2025. The dog park exterior installation was subject to Nashville weather conditions during the install window.
Access
The mailroom presented a specific physical constraint: a 36-inch-wide doorway was the only access point for equipment. A scissor lift was confirmed for interior use and had to be sized and coordinated to fit within that clearance. Wall preparation was sequenced around building ready-dates for drywall completion.
Brand and design alignment
Mill Creek Residential supplied an existing interior art packet. All concept development had to align with that packet's standards. An initial concept was reviewed and revised before production began, with stakeholder approval required at each stage.
Compliance and contract
Mill Creek Residential's risk department required specific contract structures, including insurance documentation and a 10% retainage provision. WXLLSPACE managed the contract revision process directly to meet those requirements before work commenced.
Budget
The project budget encompassed artist compensation, materials, and project management. Scope was structured to deliver a complete, finished result within parameters the development team assessed as fair. Connect with WXLLSPACE to discuss scope and investment for your project.
The WXLLSPACE Process
Site intake and scope definition
WXLLSPACE CEO Jordan Giha conducted a site review, providing video walkthroughs to the development team in lieu of in-person calls. Wall dimensions, surface conditions, access constraints, and scheduling dependencies were captured for both spaces. The mailroom walls and the exterior dog park were scoped as a single coordinated engagement.
Artist sourcing
WXLLSPACE shortlisted artists for the project based on style match, scale experience, and project fit relative to Mill Creek Residential's interior art direction. Eric Bass was selected for his hyper-realistic portraiture technique and his ability to deliver at architectural scale. Damien Mitchell was also considered during the shortlist phase.
Concept development and revision
An initial concept was developed and presented to Mill Creek Residential for review. Following stakeholder feedback and alignment with the existing interior art package, the concept was revised to reflect a contemporary portraiture approach: diverse figures, jewel tones, and symbolic references to the Nashville neighborhood context. The final direction was approved before production began.
Contract and compliance coordination
WXLLSPACE coordinated contract revisions required by Mill Creek Residential's risk department, including insurance provisions and a 10% retainage structure. All documentation was resolved before installation commenced.
Real-time project dashboard
WXLLSPACE deployed its project application platform on Modera SoBro, enabling direct progress updates from artist to client throughout the install. Development team stakeholders received continuous photo documentation without requiring on-site presence. This was the first deployment of the WXLLSPACE project dashboard in a live commission environment.
Install Details
Mailroom Size
476 SQFT (2 walls)
Mailroom Surface
Drywall
Ceiling Height (Mailroom)
17 ft
Access Equipment
Scissor lift (36 in. doorway clearance)
Install Duration
~2 weeks (mailroom)
Materials
Latex (Sherwin-Williams), spray paint, gold paint seal
Business Outcome
Schedule
The mailroom installation was targeted for completion in late February 2025. Finished project photos were confirmed and shared in April 2025. The dog park exterior installation was subject to Nashville weather conditions during the install window.
Access
The mailroom presented a specific physical constraint: a 36-inch-wide doorway was the only access point for equipment. A scissor lift was confirmed for interior use and had to be sized and coordinated to fit within that clearance. Wall preparation was sequenced around building ready-dates for drywall completion.
Brand and design alignment
Mill Creek Residential supplied an existing interior art packet. All concept development had to align with that packet's standards. An initial concept was reviewed and revised before production began, with stakeholder approval required at each stage.
Compliance and contract
Mill Creek Residential's risk department required specific contract structures, including insurance documentation and a 10% retainage provision. WXLLSPACE managed the contract revision process directly to meet those requirements before work commenced.
Budget
The project budget encompassed artist compensation, materials, and project management. Scope was structured to deliver a complete, finished result within parameters the development team assessed as fair. Connect with WXLLSPACE to discuss scope and investment for your project.
What developers say about working with WXLLSPACE
Final Shots
About WXLLSPACE
WXLLSPACE is a Two-Sided Marketplace that connects real estate developers with professional mural artists to transform urban spaces through large-scale public art. Our platform streamlines the commissioning process from artist sourcing and proposal review through production management and closeout, saving development teams time while delivering installations that elevate properties and build community.Developers gain access to a vetted, global network of professional artists, Artist Landing Pages that make selection fast and informed, and end-to-end project support that keeps complex, multi-surface installations on track.
What About You?
If you are planning a large-scale public art project for a multifamily, mixed-use, or commercial development, WXLLSPACE can help you source the right artist, manage the process, and deliver an installation your residents, tenants, and capital partners will recognize as a meaningful addition to the property. Connect with our team to discuss your project, explore artist options, and understand what a streamlined commissioning process looks like from the first site review through final closeout.
Visit wxllspace.com to start your project or schedule a call with our team.
