CASS Contemporary Arrives in Nashville: “CLTRL CNTXT” Explores What Brings Us Together
- Kimberly Porter
- Jul 21
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 22
Uniting Cultures Through Shared Icons: CASS Contemporary’s “CLTRL CNTXT” Exhibition Debuts in Nashville September 2025
On September 12, 2025, Nashville’s dynamic art landscape becomes richer with the arrival of CASS Contemporary, which debuts its new space in Wedgewood-Houston with a timely exhibition: CLTRL CNTXT. As cultural fragmentation and hyper-personalization seem the norm, CASS Contemporary throws down a provocative question: What still unites us?
A Gallery Committed to Global Dialogue
Founded in Tampa, Florida and known for its cutting-edge programming and deep artist relationships, CASS Contemporary’s expansion to Nashville signals more than a new address—it’s a commitment to bringing globally relevant, socially resonant art to an increasingly vibrant Southern art market. The gallery, led by Jake and Cassie Greatens, has built a reputation for spotlighting both iconic and rising voices and for curating experiences that spark genuine dialogue.
“CLTRL CNTXT”: A World of Shared References
This inaugural group show is anything but typical. CLTRL CNTXT assembles seven artists from seven different countries, each bringing a distinct cultural lens yet all probing the connective tissue of shared memory, pop iconography, and visual archetypes. Rather than seeking consensus, the show celebrates resonances that transcend borders—those moments of recognition found in a meme, the face of a pop culture icon, or the reimagining of historical motifs.
Featured Artists & Their Perspectives
Florian Eymann (France): Renowned for dark, deconstructed portraits that remix art historical icons, Eymann’s canvases blend chaos and intimacy, prompting viewers to find order and meaning amid layered references.
Michal Mraz (Slovakia): Mraz’s paintings interweave street art grit with high-culture motifs, using a hybrid of oil, acrylic, and stencil to reflect on urban spaces, consumerism, and globalization.
Joram Roukes (Netherlands): Known for collage-like assemblages, Roukes creates disjointed yet compelling compositions, challenging ideas of collective identity in contemporary culture.
Kim Byungkwan (South Korea): Byungkwan’s luminous oils reimagine iconic Disney characters, simultaneously comforting and unsettling viewers while reflecting on the enduring power—and strangeness—of the familiar.
Allison Hueman (USA): Famed for large-scale public murals and a style that oscillates between the abstract and representational, Hueman explores liminality, memory, and healing, layering vivid paints and textiles to evoke transcendent experience.
Nicholas Romero Escalada (Argentina): Romero Escalada’s work bridges graffiti energy and still life, using everyday objects and pop symbols as tools for social reflection and anthropological inquiry.
Fintan Magee (Australia): Magee is celebrated for his evocative murals exploring collective memory, migration, and the impact of global change, infusing personal stories into universal iconography.
Each artist contributes two to three new works, offering a multifaceted look at how visual culture forges links that are sometimes subtle, sometimes astonishing, across geography and life experiences.
Opening Night: A Celebration of Community
More than just an art opening, the September 12th launch promises an evening of music, conversation, and an invitation to meet both the artists and gallery founders. For Nashville’s creative community, it marks the arrival of a major new player with national ambitions and international reach.
Why “CLTRL CNTXT” at CASS Contemporary Matters
In an era awash with individualistic feeds and niche subcultures, CLTRL CNTXT reminds us of art’s unique power to create common ground. By juxtaposing varied traditions and shared icons, the show doesn’t ask us to agree—it asks us to connect, to recognize threads of meaning that persist even as our cultures fragment.
With this ambitious debut, CASS Contemporary isn’t just opening a gallery; it’s igniting a necessary conversation about identity, memory, and the subtle forces that still bind us together. For Nashville, and for the international art world, CLTRL CNTXT sets the stage for a new era of global-facing, socially conscious programming in one of America’s most creative cities. Follow on social for more: Website: https://www.casscontemporary.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casscontemporary/