Richmond’s New Creative Habitat: Inside Moss Studios
With an invite from Mooch, you gotta come through. Stepping into Moss Studios, in Richmond, Virginia, feels like the feeling of community, creativity, and possibility. What started as a vision has become a growing creative hub where local artists,, photographers, and podcasters gather not only to work but to build something bigger than themselves. I sat down with owner, Curtis McCullough, the man behind the studio, to hear his story, vision, and where he hopes to take this unique creative space.
Curtis McCullough, owner of MOSS Studios (L) stands in for a quick portrait at the MOSS Networking Event in April.
McCullough was born and raised in Richmond, with deep ties to Glen Allen and Roanoke. MOSS’ story is rooted in resilience, creativity, and an unapologetic desire to uplift others. “I kept having this vision in my head,” he shares. “A big-ass plane hangar, with barracks where artists could sleep, a basketball court, a movie studio, podcast studios, a photography studio – a whole creative compound.”
While that dream remains the long-term goal, MOSS Studios is the tangible first step – a flagship studio where MOSS and his partners are planning the blueprint before expanding to other cities like D.C. and Atlanta. “The idea is to franchise it,” McCullough explains. “Not like a corporate thing, though. If we do a satellite studio somewhere else, the person running it would get ownership too. It’s about building opportunities for other people.”
In addition to studio time, the space has hosted open sessions, collaborative workshops, and free community events. Places like MOSS aim to bring different people together together, who might not otherwise cross paths, photographers, rappers, podcasters, producers – everyone, all under one roof.
What makes MOSS Studios stand out is the versatility of its founder. McCullough isn’t just a studio manager, but he’s done it all from starting a “I’ve had a clothing line, done tattoos, flipped cars, I’m a butcher part-time, still cutting meat when I need to. All the money I make, I pour right back into the company.”
The studio itself has seven spaces: two recording studios, a photography/content studio, a podcast room, a production room, a meeting space, and an entrance area in the front. It’s open to everyone. Artists can book time to to produce their albums, singles, podcasts, photo shoots, or events right through the website.
And the plans keep growing. “This whole brick wall is going to be a mural,” McCullough says, pointing to a large section of the studio. “I’m gonna hang up canvas art, sell art, host sports betting nights, Twitch streams — whatever we can dream up. The possibilities are endless.”
“I just want to see us win,” McCullough says. “Not just me, but everybody out here doing dope shit. If I can build something that helps others eat, that’s the real success.”
In a world where creative spaces are too often gatekept or hella corporate, MOSS Studios feels a little more personal, accessible, and rooted in something deeper than just making money. It’s a space built by the people, for the people — and it’s just starting to bloom.
