Cass Waters (b. 1999, Woodstock, GA) is a multidisciplinary artist whose primary focus is painting, alongside work in sound, video, and photography. She developed her practice through extensive travel across the U.S., working as an art model and participating in open studios. Opting to forgo a traditional BFA, Cass relocated to New York City to pursue her MFA at the New York Academy of Art, graduating in May 2025.
Community engagement is a core part of her practice. Cass founded the Chicago Artist’s Skill Exchange, an interdisciplinary collective centered on skill sharing, material exchanges, group exhibitions, figure drawing, and mutual support. In 2023, she launched The Exchange NYC, an artist-run initiative dedicated to connecting creatives outside institutional frameworks through resource sharing and organized events.
In 2025, she established The Nostrand Gallery out of her Crown Heights studio. The gallery operates an art leasing program aimed at enriching public spaces and small businesses while providing emerging artists with opportunities for exposure and professional growth.
