Curtis Parker Shares the Steps to a Panera Bread Mural
Did you know Panera Bread builds each bakery cafe from the ground up, with architects and designers thinking through all aspects of the project, including which neighborhood it’s in? Realizing that, it makes sense that they wouldn’t choose off-the-shelf art for their carefully considered spaces.
In the case of this custom mural for a building-site in a California location, SHA artist Curtis Parker cooked up a 40 x 12-foot painting that reflected the history of the city, as well as evoking the feel that Panera was looking for. Local planners emphatically conveyed that the mural could not be about Panera itself, but Parker still managed to create a piece that can be identified as part of the ‘Panera feel.’
VP / Design Creative at Panera Bread Jay Jung said “It turned out to be an amazing piece of art and full of incredible detail and activity” and we’d agree. Curtis did a fantastic job. Jay also mentioned enjoying the collaboration with Curtis, saying “it worked beautifully, just discussing the objectives of the project directly with the artist.”
As a little bit of project trivia, Jay added, “If there just happens to be a small group of work men in an obscure corner of the mural enjoying a sandwich from Panera, I really can’t tell you how that got in there!”
It seems that pleasing companies and zoning officials alike is a rough task, but one that was artfully mastered by a master creative himself, Curtis Parker.
Rough Sketches
Final Sketch by Artist
Panera’s Final Presentation Draft
Panera’s Emeryville, CA Store Mural
Close-up of Mural
Close-up Detail of Mural
