Cassie Greatens stepped into the art world more than a decade ago as co-founder of CASS (Contemporary Art Space and Studio) Contemporary with her husband, Jake Greatens. Fueled by their shared experiences and love of travel and art, there was no looking back once they established CASS Contemporary as an art gallery. Since then, CASS has grown into a full-service art consulting and management company under the joint efforts of the Florida-based couple, with plans for expansion in Nashville, Tennessee, in fall 2025.
Greatens had a nontraditional pathway to her art career. With a lifelong love for all types of art, including theater, visual arts, music, and film, she became further exposed to art through her husband, Jake, who is an artist himself.
“Jake has the most incredible vision and eye. Hearing him talk about art and witnessing his curations motivates me every day,” Greatens says. “It’s a very special thing! I married an artist, and he’s my best friend. So going into this industry and working together was an easy life decision. It’s where we both belong.”
Her unique entry onto the art scene only enhanced her passion for the arts, which is wholly reflected in CASS Contemporary. The original gallery in Tampa, Florida, was founded on the principle that art is for everyone. And as Greatens and her husband fostered the evolution of the gallery into what CASS is today, that principle has remained as a permanent fixture in her work.
Running CASS is very much a yin and yang situation, according to Greatens. “Jake is the creative director and handles most of the art and creative concepts,” she notes. Greatens, on the other hand, oversees much of the business side of things, including public relations, marketing, financials, and contracts.
“I also play a huge role in sponsors and client relationships and event planning,” Greatens explains. “CASS started as a gallery and has grown into much more, including managing art collections and assisting developers with their art programming.”
Throughout all aspects of her work, Greatens endeavors to spark fun and innovation through art. She has had a large influence on the evolution of CASS Contemporary into the renowned art service it has become.
CASS now serves a diverse range of clientele, including celebrities, seasoned collectors, and art enthusiasts. “We now partner with huge brands and consult for commercial and residential clients, among other services,” Greatens says. “And the challenges we’ve faced are two-fold: finding ways to stay fresh and relevant and constantly looking to make new connections with people who love art or who share our vision at CASS, which is to bring art to the forefront.”
Despite those hurdles, Greatens and her husband have worked together to infuse that mission of bringing art into every community into the core of CASS through consultation work, commissioning artists, and curating exhibitions. Under their joint guidance, CASS Contemporary has completed a wide range of projects, including both residential and commercial art curation, as well as the commission of 23 public art murals by artists such as Leon Keer, Tristan Eaton, and Faith XLVII. Pieces commissioned by CASS and the Greatenses can be spotted in numerous locations around Tampa, including the WATERLICHT Tampa public installation by internationally acclaimed Netherlands-based artist, Studio Roosegaarde.
For Greatens’, one of the largest professional wins to emerge from CASS over the last 13 years has been the ongoing opportunity to engage with and help first-time art buyers locally, nationally, and internationally. “Watching them fall in love with art and expand their collection over the years is amazing. I always feel like a winner seeing people fall in love with art,” she shares. “I say to myself that we did that!”
As CASS Contemporary co-founder, Greatens is extremely proud of the work and growth that have come for her and for CASS throughout the last decade. “It has been such an incredible experience watching the CASS brand expand and working to place the artists we love and support in people’s homes, businesses and on their walls.”
Success for Greatens doesn’t end with her professional work. Personally, she has seen her children become more and more immersed in the art world, too. “We have four kids, and they have traveled all over with us. They’ve gone to museums, galleries and art installations since they were little,” she says. “I’m proud that they can understand and appreciate the value that art has in people’s lives.”
Cassie Greatens’ impact on both her business and her family is driven by a deep love of art and enthusiasm for sharing that passion with others. In her work with CASS Contemporary, she is fully empowered to assist in high-end art curation, management, and consultation services, making deep artistic connections with both artists and clients.
