CASS Contemporary Officially Opens In Nashville’s Wedgewood-Houston With Inaugural Exhibit CLTRL CNTXT
On Friday, September 12, 2025, Nashville’s Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood saw the anticipated debut of acclaimed Tampa-based art gallery, CASS Contemporary, which celebrated its grand opening with an evening of art and community engagement. The opening of the gallery’s inaugural exhibit, CTRL CNTXT, marked an exciting new chapter for the visual art scene in Music City.
CASS Contemporary was founded over a decade ago by co-owners Jake and Cassie Greatens. Since its beginnings, the gallery has expanded into a highly sought-after, high-end art consulting and management service. The company is set apart in the art world by the particular expertise of the Greatens, whose business savvy coincides with a keen artistic eye.
Over the years, CASS Contemporary has built an impressive repertoire that is rooted in passion and care. The company represents and promotes artists from all around the world who work in a diversity of styles and mediums. Many artists have trusted CASS with their work for years. In partnership with their artists, CASS serves high-profile clientele, a list which includes developers, restauranteurs, athletes, and celebrities looking for curated pieces for corporate spaces and personal collections. The crossroads of the company’s service ultimately provides an elevated platform for artists from all walks of life, sharing powerful work that speaks to the overarching mission of connection through art, a mission which has now found a second home in Nashville, Tennessee.
“We’re delighted to finally be able to bring CASS Contemporary to Nashville and to share a space that we have worked so hard on and are so proud of with such a vibrant, creative community,” shared co-owner Cassie Greatens. “Our goal is to spark conversation, foster connection—between artists, collectors, and neighbors—and highlight art’s unique ability to ignite and inspire. This exhibition is a love letter to the stories and shared experiences that unite us.”
Last weekend’s grand opening event was open to the public. CASS welcomed the Nashville community, with open arms, into an evening filled to the brim with artistic vision and inspiration. Through the lens of CLTRL CNTXT, guests were invited to consider and explore the symbols that unite us across cultural borders. 7 artists, hailing from 7 different countries, were given the same prompt and asked to interpret it through 2-3 pieces of their original work. The prompt called on artists to consider what still shapes our collective cultural identity in a time that is so often defined by fragmentation and hyper-individualism.
The incredible artists represented at CTRL CNTXT are as follows: Florian Eymann of France, Michal Mraz of Slovakia, Joram Roukes of the Netherlands, Kim Byungkwan of South Korea, Allison Hueman of the United States, Nicholas Romero Escalada of Argentina, Fintan Magee 0f Australia, and Faith47 of South Africa. A through line in each artists’ work, the posed question remained: In a world that’s so hyperconnected but often fragmented, what still brings us together?
In response to this question, the artwork currently on display for CLTRL CNTXT showcases recognizable symbols of life that transcend physical and metaphysical borders. Figures found in the interpretive artwork include pop culture icons, recognizable food items, brands, nostalgic objects, animals, the human body, divine figures, and more. You can learn more about the represented artists and their bodies of work here.
Wandering the gallery space on the warm September evening that marked a new beginning in Nashville, Tennessee, one came face-to-face with canvases that have traveled from all corners of the world to end up in the same room in Wedgewood-Houston, participating in a symphony of images more alike than they are different. The collection of artwork including everything from saintly figures, the human form, and livestock to pop tarts, cartoon characters, and pieces of technology. Moving between the work of 7 artists who have grown up on entirely different soil, one could tangibly see the universal experiences and symbols that unite us, despite our worldly differences.
The thematic representation of CLTR CNXT speaks to the ultimate objective of CASS and any other space—in Nashville and beyond—that gives artists a platform. The noble goal of amplifying creative voices from both near and far is, at its core, a celebration of the most integral parts of our humanity. This reality was not lost on guests of the gallery opening, who marveled at the work so carefully curated and displayed by the Greatens.
“Opening our Nashville location is a testament to the vision and dedication that have driven CASS Contemporary for the past decade,” emphasized co-owner Jake Greatens. “Our business has grown and shifted significantly over the past decade, but we have always remained committed to globally engaged, socially relevant art, championing boundary-pushing artists and elevating the creative voices that shape our world.”
An artist himself, Jake, alongside Cassie, has been well trusted to steward precious works by artists of all levels of visibility and fame. Since the beginning, CASS’s brand has featured works by all kinds of artists, spanning from up-and-coming talent to renowned cultural icons. The company has even been involved in consulting on contemporary pieces by the likes of Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Keith Haring. Committed to promoting both new and established voices, the Greatens are set to become a pillar in Nashville’s creative landscape. Their presence in the community will undoubtedly increase accessibility to the arts, encourage local growth, honor the social impact of art, and inspire creativity in future generations.
In inspiring future artists, the Greatens aim to showcase artistry for what it is and what it can be—both a necessary act of humanity and a lucrative career.
Nashville is known for being a creative powerhouse, most notably in the realm of music. However, the visual art community in Music City is alive and well and—as proven by the arrival of CASS Contemporary—it is growing. Spaces like CASS are in an excellent position to feed public interest, showcasing visual art that promotes beauty and inspires change, transforming Nashville’s cultural landscape for the better.
The beauty of an art gallery is often in its liminal space. An open concept and minimalist design allows guests to fully engage with the artwork on display, rather than the room itself. CASS Contemporary’s new gallery space caters to this desire. It’s white walls, impeccable lighting, and free-flowing floor plan allows guests to be fully immersed in the visual art in front of them, fully honoring the intricate work of the artists themselves.
The gallery’s grand opening was accompanied by humming excitement as friends and neighbors participated in the start of something new. Music was provided by an excellent DJ. Refreshments were served. People gathered to support the Greatens and to be moved by the pieces of CLTRL CNTXT. Tucked into the up-and-coming Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood, CASS Contemporary is surely in the perfect position to be a beating heart in Nashville’s expanding artistic landscape.
You can immerse yourself in the world of CLTRL CNTXT from now until November. A revolving gallery-space, CASS’s CLTRL CNTXT will be followed by another exciting exhibit. The gallery is now open to visitors Wednesdays through Fridays from 12-4 p.m. and Saturdays from 12-5 p.m. Please note that Sunday through Tuesday the gallery is by appointment only. To learn more about CASS Contemporary, the Greatens, and CLTRL CNTXT, or to stay in the know about upcoming exhibits and services, visit the gallery website at casscontemporary.com.
Art & Growth In Middle Tennessee
The development of the Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood itself marks an exciting new wave in Nashville, Tennessee, as art galleries, studio spaces, luxury retailers, restaurants, bars, and clubs begin to open and expand in the area’s former warehouse spaces. These incredibly curated spaces, in addition to the area’s walkability, are expected to make Wedgewood-Houston a flourishing destination of arts, fashion, and culture in Nashville.
One of the most appealing facets of our neighboring city is the different cultures and personalities that can be encountered in each area. For more in-depth looks into the many faces of Nashville, check out our guides to specific neighborhoods:
- Visiting Nashville, TN: Your Guide To Broadway History, Honky Tonks, & Hidden Gems
- A Local’s Guide To The Coolest Spots In East Nashville, Tennessee
- Explore The Gulch: Visiting Nashville, TN With Kids
- Nashville’s 12 South Neighborhood: Restaurants, Shopping, & Things To Do
- Germantown: Dining, Nightlife, & Entertainment in Nashville’s Oldest Neighborhood
If you’re interested in joining in this artistic revival in Middle Tennessee, don’t miss out on the incredible art galleries found here in Franklin and surrounding areas. Likewise, be sure to support the local arts by attending the Downtown Franklin Art Crawl, hosted the first Friday of every month. Sponsored by The Arts Council of Williamson County, the event weaves through historic downtown Franklin and The Factory at Franklin. If you’re an artist yourself, or looking for a way to pursue that dream, check out opportunities for artists in Williamson County.
Not only does art reflect life, it can be a catalyst for change and an agent of unity. We happen to live in one of the most creatively charged areas in the country, if not the world. Don’t wait! Take advantage of the beauty, talent, and vision that surrounds us here in Middle Tennessee.
A Peek Inside CASS Contemporary’s Grand Opening:
