INVADER CREATES FIRST POOL ARTWORK IN NASHVILLE

Summary

• Invader designs his first swimming pool mosaic for Ray Nashville, a residential building opening in early 2027
• The artwork features Space Invader figures on the pool floor and retro-inspired characters along the rim
• Ray Nashville will display works by local artists throughout the building

French street artist Franck Slama, known professionally as Invader, has announced his first Nashville project. The artist will create a rooftop pool mosaic for Ray Nashville, a residential building scheduled to open in early 2027 in the Pie Town neighborhood.

Invader has spent the past two decades installing 8-bit mosaic artwork in public spaces. His work appears in over 79 cities across 20 countries. Paris hosts the majority of his installations, where pedestrians encounter his tile mosaics on building facades and street corners throughout the city.

The Ray Nashville project marks Invader's first pool-based artwork. Renderings show a Space Invader figure installed across the pool floor. A blue frieze of retro-inspired characters runs along the pool's rim. Residents and guests will swim directly over the mosaic while viewing downtown Nashville from the rooftop location.

Invader stated he has wanted to create pool artwork for years. The project aligns with his established medium of mosaic tiles, which serve as the primary material for swimming pool construction. The waterproof nature of ceramic and glass tiles makes them suitable for both pool design and Invader's artistic process.

The announcement follows Triple Trouble, an exhibition featuring Invader alongside Damien Hirst and Shepard Fairey. The show continues to draw attention to Invader's work within the contemporary art market.

Ray Nashville aims to integrate art throughout the building. The development team commissioned local artists to create works for the amenity spaces. The building positions itself as a residential option for Nashville's growing creative community.

The Pie Town neighborhood has experienced development growth in recent years. Ray Nashville adds to the area's residential options while contributing public-facing art to the neighborhood. The rooftop pool and Invader artwork will be visible from nearby buildings and streets.

Invader maintains anonymity in his professional work. He rarely gives interviews and photographs show him wearing a mask. This approach stems from the illegal nature of his early street installations, though many cities now welcome his work and some pieces receive official protection.

The artist's Space Invader motif references the 1978 arcade game of the same name. The pixelated aliens from the game translate well into mosaic form, where individual tiles create the blocky, digital aesthetic. Invader has expanded his repertoire to include other retro video game characters and cultural icons, all rendered in his signature tile style.

Each installation receives a code that corresponds to its city and installation number. Invader maintains a map on his website where fans track and document his work. This cataloging system has created a community of "hunters" who search for new pieces and verify existing installations.

Ray Nashville expects to complete construction in early 2027. The building will offer residential units alongside the art-focused amenity spaces. Interested parties will find additional information about the project, including leasing details and construction updates, on the Ray Nashville website.

The pool artwork represents a shift from Invader's typical street-level installations to a private residential setting. The piece remains accessible to building residents while maintaining the artist's visual language. The commission demonstrates how street art continues to move into sanctioned, institutional spaces while retaining its aesthetic identity.